Samaritans sees dozens of people a week at its Cessnock Emergency Relief Centre and this month is calling out for local help for the 2014 Winter Appeal.
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Samaritans Cessnock emergency relief volunteer coordinator Liz Cooper said that many local families struggle at this time of year to keep food on the table and to heat their home.
“Winter is such a tough time for families. We see families who are often forced to choose between paying the rent, keeping the electricity on or having food on the dinner table,” Ms. Cooper said.
“Money raised during our appeal goes towards our important work with these families and anyone in the community who needs assistance.”
Ms. Cooper said the centre often sees families who had never previously needed assistance.
“Increasingly we are seeing people who, only a few months ago, would never have thought of needing to ask a welfare organisation for help,” she said.
“In a basically affluent society it is easy to overlook those who are doing it tough; Samaritans see the need but needs extra resources to meet this need.”
Samaritans supports more than 250 people every week through its Emergency Relief network in Newcastle, the Hunter and the Central Coast.
Donations for the Samaritans Winter Appeal can be made at www.samaritans.org.au/donate or phone 1300 656 336.
