Together we change lives.
Whether through devastating bushfires or in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all know someone who’s doing it tough. Our AnglicareSA emergency assistance centres have had many new faces approach us – those who suddenly found themselves needing support for the first time due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The reality is thousands of South Australian families were facing the fear of spending Christmas in poverty.
Your donation goes towards providing emergency assistance, practical support and hope to families doing it tough:
- Your donation ensures food security for all.
- Your donation ensures individuals and families do not face the threat of homelessness.
- Your donation ensures we are there to walk with those who are overwhelmed.
Thank you for helping to change the lives of South Australians families in need.
A story about how your generosity can change lives…
Kayla hadn’t heard of AnglicareSA’s Emergency Assistance program until recently.
Last year, in 2020, Kayla was disciplined with her spending and, quite rightly, proud of herself. She had planned and used any extra money wisely by:
• Paying extra money on bills to get ahead
• Putting the kids Christmas and birthday presents on layby earlier in the year during the sales, which made last Christmas very special
• Saving a little each pay and picking up a few extra hours at work.
The positive start to the year didn’t last long. 2021 has been so much harder for Kayla:
“I hate myself. There were a few nights I cranked up the heater when we all got sick thinking the extra, I had paid on the electricity bill would be enough. I even fell asleep a couple of times and the heater ran all night. The extra was way over what I thought it would be and having the kids at home more means we are using more electricity, so there goes that.
When the extra hours at work dried up, my laybys were cancelled costing $17 each time. I felt sick, I lost the sale items, I’ve got less to spend, and the toys are back to full price. I feel like I’ve let my kids down and feel sick every time I think about Christmas.
Things started to get tighter when everyone at work lost hours and work became more competitive. My savings shrank each fortnight and when we all got sick a second time, that was it. I was not allowed to work until I’d had a negative COVID test which took two days. I also had to take extra days off to care for my kids, who had to stay home from school.
It wasn’t until I spoke to someone at AnglicareSA that I even realised I desperately needed to talk to someone.
I had been bottling everything up and pushing through for so long. It was only when I had no food for my kids that I was forced to reach out.
I had been skipping meals myself to make sure the kids had enough, but we all know that you can’t think clearly when you’re hungry all the time.
My growing anxiety was making it harder to fall asleep. I lay there worrying about what I had to do and when I woke, I was in a panic. Always stressing about what I had to do and battling with myself to get up and get on with it. I was tired and rundown all the time.
Not eating or sleeping was not helping. I felt emotional all the time, always on the verge of tears or snappy. I couldn’t concentrate, I began to doubt myself and my choices. I began making mistakes at work.
I hated myself each time I told the kids “I can’t, I’m just too tired”.
I hadn’t caught up with family and friends for ages and wondered if they’d even want to see me. After all, I couldn’t afford to do anything anyway and my house wasn’t up to scratch.
My visit to AnglicareSA was a miracle. I didn’t realise how much I just needed to talk. To unpack why things were going so wrong. I realised I needed help and was referred to mental health supports as well as financial counselling. I’ve received some much-needed food for my children and myself.
Now, I can see light at the end of the tunnel. The support services provided to me by AnglicareSA gave me hope. It’s helped me to rebuild.”