PERTH people are encouraged to get involved in St Vincent de Paul’s Anti-Poverty Week campaign.
Everybody Fits at Vinnies involves people donating an outfit to a Vinnies shop before freshening up their own wardrobe by purchasing something new.
Vinnies spokeswoman Joanne Hill said the campaign would help raise awareness and money so the service could continue helping the community’s vulnerable.
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READ NOW“There has been great interest from our customers,” she said.
“This week’s campaign has provided a good opportunity to create awareness and get people thinking about poverty and hardship and how, with community support, Vinnies is able to help.”
Estimates suggest between 2.5 and 2.8 million Australians live below the poverty line, with many of those children.
A Cost of Living Report released by the WA Council of Social Service (WACOSS) in conjunction with Anti-Poverty Week found families were struggling.
“On our modelling, a working family has around $130 a week spare after basic living costs,” WACOSS chief executive Irina Cattalini said.
“While this is a slight improvement on last year’s numbers, they are still at significant risk should an unexpected life-event occur or one parent loses their job.
“For an unemployed single, they aren’t even able to cover the costs for what we would consider a reasonable standard of living, coming up over $30 short each week.”
Ms Hill said you did not have to spend a lot to help out.
“For example, a $35 donation to Vinnies can provide a care package for a person experiencing homelessness,” she said.
For information visit www.vinnies.org.au.