Hidden crisis behind huge queue
As the sun rises over the colourful van in western Sydney, Amar Singh knows the line of people hoping to collect free groceries will be longer than before.
Founder of Turbans 4 Australia, Mr Singh has been giving away food, hampers and essential supplies to those who need it the most 'regardless of their race, religion and ethnicity' for a decade, but in the last few months, he has watched as the lines grow larger and more people require help. Turbans 4 Australia founder Amar Singh (far left) said the demand for his charity has skyrocketed amid the cost-of-living crisis. Supplied Credit: Supplied
A 2024 Food Bank report found 34 per cent of all households in Victoria were experiencing food insecurity, with more than half skipping meals and going entire days without eating.
As the cost of living crisis continues to sink its teeth into the country, Mr Singh told NewsWire said he's been inundated with calls from desperate Australians in need.
'The demand due to cost-of-living is going up every day,' he told NewsWire. 'It's absolutely horrible seeing what average people are suffering.'
First established in 2015, the charity is run by the Sikh community in Sydney and Melbourne, and has 'secured some commitments' to expand their services in Perth Adelaide.
Mr Singh said he watched as struggling Australians lined up during the Covid-19 pandemic to receive free groceries and essential items, and at the time, said he witnessed 'a lot of pain and suffering' from the community, but felt secure thanks to government funding.
Now the lockdowns have ended, the charity is struggling to keep up with the demand as government support thins out and donations dwindle.
Mr Singh said the lack of funding and public's increasing need for food has become so extreme the charity has started to turn people away.
'This is really annoying me,' he said. 'Because we have to say no to so many people.' The team at Turbans 4 Australia have been emotionally affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Over the last few years, Mr Singh witnessed people young and old lining up to receive their grocery hampers, despite 'working full-time or part-time' and unable to afford food.
'It really breaks my heart to see so many people struggling at all different cohorts of the society,' he told NewsWire.
'It's not just the homeless who are struggling … or young people or the elderly. It's right across the board.'
He has slammed the government for failing to address the current crisis and demanded more be done to reduce the strain on Australian households.
'In our lifetime, (the cost of) everything is just going up and up,' he said, suggesting throwing 'more funds to offset the inflation' would not do much to help.
'It's about driving down the cost of groceries down, fuel and utilities and mortgages,' he said.
'That's going to help people, because most of the people we see are working full-time or part-time.
'These are people struggling to make ends meet.' Turbans 4 Australia travel across Victoria and NSW to offer food tor those who need it most. Supplied Credit: Supplied
The team at Turbans 4 Australia, who hand out free hampers with $80-$100 worth of non-perishable and perishable food every Sunday at their headquarters in Clyde, said many community members offer their own services after collecting their goods.
'They're like, 'Hey, I normally don't ask for a handout but you have been really kind to us, can I give you a hand before I pick up a hamper?' Mr Singh told NewsWire.
The increasing lines has a negative impact on the team, as well.
'There's a lot of trauma for our side,' he told NewsWire. 'To see kids are suffering and young families … it's horrible. Nobody wants to be in this place.'
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