Winter Appeal most important in 40 years

THE annual 3BA Winter Appeal got underway on Tuesday with the drive donating sixteen pallets of food and goods to local welfare services.

The handover took place at Maxi Foods and Appeal ambassador Peter Caligari said the dual impacts of COVID-19 and an early start to winter meant this year’s drive was shaping up as the most challenging ever.

“The need is absolutely enormous this year,” he said. “That’s why the importance of the Winter Appeal this year to be highly successful is just absolutely critical.

“There’s a likelihood that the welfare agencies that we support are going to be overwhelmed.”

Donations to the Appeal enable Uniting Ballarat, the Salvation Army, Anglicare Ballarat and the St Vincent de Paul Society to support the region’s most vulnerable people.

Mr Caligari said the current conditions meant those who hadn’t needed to call on the support of those groups before are now doing so.

“Much of the newer demand is coming from young families,” he said. “It’s these young families that are doing it very, very tough at the present time. But go right across the broad spectrum of the community and it’s a very tough time for everyone.

“We’ve seen a very severe start to winter and things are not going to get any better for the next few months.”

This year the City of Ballarat has come onboard and made its Morshead Park emergency food relief location available, adding another drop point for the Appeal.

3BA station manager John Fitzgibbon said people were being faced with tough choices.

“When a utility bill lands they have to make the decision do they pay the bill or put food on the table, or turn the heater on,” he said. “We try and ensure they don’t have to make that decision.”

Mr Fitzgibbon said the willingness of organisations, companies and individuals to step up and support the Winter Appeal was making a difference.

While donations of food and goods are helpful, cash donations are just as important.

“At the end of the day cash is king,” Mr Fitzgibbon said. “That gives us the flexibility to provide what we’ve done today.”

Visit 3ba.com.au to find details on how and where to donate.