ORANGE is not immune to the pressures outlined in the Social Services of NSW Cost of Living Report released this week showing one in seven children in the state is now living in poverty.
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The report also reveals one in three middle income families in regional NSW could not afford dental treatment, as they struggled to pay rent and put food on the table.
St Vincent de Paul spokesperson Ellen Sharp said the food programs provided by St Vincent de Paul including the Vinnies van and the Vinnies cafe play a pivotal role in supporting families that have run out of food.
“Many families we find just live from week to week,” Mrs Sharp said.
Mrs Sharp said St Vincent de Paul is in the process of preparing definitive data on the number of people in Orange who are supported each week because they are living below the poverty line saying anecdotally the organisation helps scores of people by providing free food from the Vinnies van or meals at the Vinnies cafe held at the Orange Senior Citizens’ Centre on Fridays.
“While we are able to reach disadvantaged people through these services, being able to help people who are homeless is more of a challenge and something we are working on at the moment,” she said.
Mrs Sharp said the van and the cafe rely heavily on the generous support of food suppliers that make the services possible.
“But what we will also be looking for in the future are cash donations so we can purchase more of the items we need,” she said.
“We are extremely fortunate we have a strong core group of volunteers who work for the van service and the cafe and wonderful support from in-kind sponsors,” she said.
After starting in 2008 with one service a week to distribute food the van now distributes three meals on an off-pension week.
Volunteer Monica Knight said in her experience many people go to the cafe not only for the meal.
“It is because they feel isolated and in winter they are cold. It’s a place where they can have a nice meal, have a talk and stay warm,” she said.
The Social Services report also pointed out energy charges have doubled in the last 10 years, adding to pressures on the disadvantaged.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au