UNPRECEDENTED numbers of children are needing a boost this Christmas so Ballarat City and Lucas firefighters have come to the rescue.
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Ballarat welfare agencies are sourcing presents for almost 670 children with agencies reporting a 10 to 15 per cent increase in demand for help across the community this festive season.
Career firefighters have tried to alleviate pressure by personally donating toys to the annual 3BA Christmas Appeal.
Uniting Ballarat crisis support coordinator Naomi Bailey said a lot of families were feeling the squeeze with changes to government school assistance, rising energy costs and a drop in government funding in moving from parenting to Newstart allowances.
“These toys mean we’re able to spend more money on vouchers,” Ms Bailey said.
“The decreasing amount of government assistance is having a significant impact. We’re all having to assist families in lots of ways.”
The 3BA appeal supports Uniting Ballarat, Anglicare, St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.
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