St. Vincent de Paul Society Launches 2020 Christmas Appeal

As more Tasmanians turn to the St. Vincent de Paul Society for assistance after they have struggled through a tough year, the Society’s CEO, Lara Alexander, is asking the community to dig as deep as they can this year to make Christmas special for those in need.

“The St. Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Appeal is one of our most important appeals of the year; and it has never been more important than in 2020,” Mrs Alexander said.

“It has been a very tough year for many Tasmanians, marked by job losses, business closures, and drastically reduced working hours. This has placed many vulnerable Tasmanians under increased financial strain and they have turned to Vinnies for help. So far this year, we have distributed almost $1.2 million to those in need in Tasmania,” she added.

“While Christmas brings a sense of joy and happiness to many of us, for far too many families just the thought of Christmas this year is bringing a sense of foreboding and stress. This time last year, many of these families were looking forward to Christmas the same as the rest of us. Now, they find themselves under so much financial stress they are worrying about putting food on the table and paying utility bills before considering the additional costs of Christmas.

“Vinnies’ 2020 Christmas Appeal offers relief and hope to Tasmanians in need; especially the hundreds of Tasmanians who have never had to rely on a charity in the past.

“Tasmanians will be affected again because the Australian Government has reduced the Coronavirus supplement and it will be reduced further early next year. This will plunge many more Tasmanians into poverty. In a double hit to the vulnerable, the Tasmanian Government will also lift the moratorium on evictions on December 1, a few weeks before Christmas, so now those already suffering financial stress, face the very real prospect of eviction just days before Christmas. This is why Vinnies’ Christmas Appeal is so important this year.

“Each year the Tasmanian community has generously donated to Vinnies Christmas Appeal to help people who have fallen on hard times to enjoy Christmas. Last year we raised $152,000. Our hope is that this year the community will once again rally to support Vinnies Christmas Appeal; We have already committed almost $102K for our Christmas hampers, double from last year; any additional funds will be used to assist more families and young people in their hour of greatest need,” Mrs Alexander said.

Across Australia, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult for all charities, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, to support people in need due to social distancing restrictions and the need for the contactless delivery of food support. During lockdown, Vinnies had to close their shops across Tasmania, which reduced the charity’s ability to generate funds to distribute to people in need. Vinnies Christmas Appeal serves to build up funds to distribute to Tasmania’s most vulnerable people and families.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal will run until the end of January 2021and the funds raised will be distributed in the form of emergency relief payments, food parcels, toys for children, and emergency accommodation. Vinnies’ Vans, Loui’s Vans, and Vinnies’ Dining with Friends state-wide programmes will also benefit from the 2020 Christmas Appeal. Donations to the 2020 Vinnies Christmas Appeal can be made via vinnies.org.au/christmasappeal or by calling 13 18 12.