Latest news with #RedShield
Otago Daily Times
24-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Community backs appeal to tune of $10K
Salvation Army Captains Paul and Jocelyn Smith with Cameron McIntosh, 19, of Oamaru, who spent eight hours collecting for the Red Shield Appeal. PHOTO: JULES CHIN The Salvation Army Red Shield appeal in the Waitaki District made over $10,000 this year thanks to volunteers and generous public support. The funds raised will go directly into the community through welfare support, food banks and social services. Salvation Army Captain Jocelyn Smith was "really, really happy" with the results. "We had Scouts and the Lions clubs, the three high schools and volunteers from all over the place. "We cracked just over $10,000. It's great. We needed that." Last year, the Salvation Army produced over 700 food parcels for people in need. The high cost of living had since increased demand. Capt Smith said the appeal was also a great way for Salvation Army volunteers to be face-to-face with the public. "People say beautiful things, such as I want to give to the Sallies, my son's in rehab at the moment and you guys are helping him to get sober. Or you guys helped me when we had no food and got us through a really tough time and we really appreciate it." Those stories were "golden". Capt Smith said the amount of money, resources and personnel required to keep up the community support was "big", with only one staff member working 20 hours a week and three part-time volunteers helping with the food bank.
7NEWS
22-05-2025
- General
- 7NEWS
Adelaide mother-of-four admits to stealing food amid cost-of-living crisis
A mother-of-four has made the shocking admission she regularly shoplifts to feed her children amid the cost-of-living crisis. Nakiah* said she feels guilty but blames rising food prices for leaving her with little choice to ensure her children do not go hungry. 'No parent wants to hear your kid say 'I'm still hungry' after dinner,' Nakiah told 7NEWS. 'I feel guilt but at the same time I don't because it's for my children — I'll do anything for my children.' The single mother, from Adelaide's northern suburbs, is not alone, with Salvation Army data released ahead of the charity's annual Red Shield Appeal showing the cost-of living crisis is having widespread impact. The Red Shield Report 2025 — which surveyed 3586 vulnerable Australians who had received food, financial aid or material aid from The Salvation Army — found almost a quarter (24 per cent) had eaten food past its expiry date to save money. It also found one in 20 Australians have taken and eaten food from bins outside supermarkets and restaurants, while a majority of people are skipping meals. Nakiah said the rising costs of housing and essential services and other basic living expenses meant there was often not enough money left to adequately feed her family. She admits to shoplifting at least once a fortnight so her children don't go to bed hungry, saying it is her last resort — and it frightens her. 'You walk through (the shops) just watching and knowing I'm about to do something like that — it's so scary,' she told 7NEWS. 'So many people are just brought to guilt and shame to do the wrong thing when they don't want to. 'We can't do this any more, we can't keep living like this.' Salvation Army spokesperson Robyn Lorimer said many people across Australia were cutting corners to make ends meet. 'We're finding people would prefer to sit in the dark than put their lights on,' she said. 'For some, they're even having to go to a public toilet or shopping centre just to shower because they can't justify the water costs.' The Salvation Army is aiming to raise $2 million in its annual Red Shield appeal this weekend, to support those people doing it tough — and to intervene before more of them resort to crime.
