By Callum Ludwig
Cost of living pressures are continuing to take a toll in the Yarra Ranges, with HICCI recording the most requests it has ever received for emergency relief last month since it was founded in 1989.
HICCI has needed to drastically reduce their budget and these factors have left their annual Christmas appeal in jeopardy.
HICCI Executive Officer Alison Gommers said the lack of opportunity for fundraising in recent years has resulted in the reduced availability of funds.
“In the past, we’ve relied heavily on local business and service clubs such as Rotary and the Lions’ Den for donations as well as the general public but understandably these people and groups haven’t had extra funds to donate,” she said.
“Also with we were given additional funds and people had access to JobSeeker payments, but now people are limited with the rising cost of everything from petrol to groceries to mortgages.”
Traditionally HICCI’s Christmas appeal has provided a hamper, vouchers for food and a voucher for children 16 years old and under for gifts.
Ms Gommers said it is by no means anyone’s fault the appeal is at risk, but that we are all being affected by the current circumstances.
“We’re just reaching out to the community or planning to see whether they can, if possible, make any monetary donations to HICCI in the lead-up to Christmas to help us to buy vouchers for food and gifts for children,” she said.
“Last year there were about 76 children we had vouchers for and we gave out 140 hampers, and Coles vouchers so they could buy food for Christmas lunch and make it a bit special for their families.”
HICCI provides a number of services, from emergency relief to transport to a weekly community dinner for a social opportunity and dinner.
Ms Gommers encouraged anyone in need to get in touch with HICCI.
“There are all different ways we can help people whether it be through HICCI or by referring people to other services, everyone’s had a tough ride the last couple of years. Christmas is a special time and I think we all deserve a bit of a treat,” she said.
“We appreciate that everybody is doing it tough, but if anyone has the opportunity to spare a little, however much it is, we could drag hat out to help multiple people.”
