A survey of 1380 Salvation Army clients found 69 per cent said getting enough food to eat was a daily challenge.

It also found that  some children went without three meals a day and did not get proper medical treatment because their parents could not pay for it.

Salvation Army communications and fundraising director Leigh Cleave said parents were cutting down on necessities.

“It paints a very bleak picture of what is happening to many regional, marginalised Australians,” she said.”

State Red Shield Appeal director, Major Gary Masters, said there was increased demand for their services.

“We are very sad that so many people are struggling to make ends meet,” he said.

“Parents understand that they can’t provide for their kids so they are feeling guilty.

“And children see their friends at school have more in their lunchbox than they do.”

The Red Shield Appeal is on Saturday and Sunday.

In Orange a spokesman for the Education Department said several schools provided breakfast for students.

“A number of local public schools offer breakfast programs to ensure that all students have the opportunity begin their school day well fed and ready to learn,” he said.

They include Anson Street School, which provides breakfast on a case-by-case basis, and Canobolas Rural Technology High School, which provides breakfast options at its canteen.

Bowen Public School principal Rob McPherson said it had two breakfast programs available to all students.

“[The first is] four days a week by the local IGA who operate through donations to the cause and look to give our students a healthy start to the day,” he said.

Mr McPherson said the Mountain Hope church group provided a cafe style breakfast once a week which included a “mentoring role.”