The cost of living pinch is hitting households hard in the final week to Christmas.
Charities across the country are reporting huge increases in demand at food relief centres from Aussies struggling to put food on the table.
Some families are going without gifts for the first time this festive season, charities say.
Empower’s food relief centre in South Melbourne is seeing huge queues for free meals and Christmas grocery shops.
“It doesn’t surprise me but it still concerns me because it happens week in, week out,” Empower chief executive Neil Smith told 9News.
But as the cost of living soars, charities are also seeing a decline in donations.
Foodbank Victoria chief executive Dave McNamara said the charity was seeing demand outstrip supply this year.
“At the moment we’ve got more food out than we’ve got coming in,” he said.
“It’s the busiest [period] in our 93-year history at the moment.”
But some good Samaritans are paying forward what they can this Christmas.
At Toy World in Ferntree Gully, an anonymous woman paid off every gift on layby, which totalled $8500.
The toy shop has also seen various customers donate cash so strangers can buy gifts.
Charities are hoping for the goodwill to be extended as they brace for last week to Christmas.
McNamara acknowledged times are tough but they’ll take anything anyone is prepared to give.
“If people could help, that would be wonderful,” he said.
