Welfare agencies are bracing for both a rise in cases like this and people needing a helping boost as job losses and under-employment from the COVID-19 pandemic take a toll leading into winter.

St Vincent de Paul's Alan West said winter needs had been on the rise each year but coronavirus would undoubtedly make things more difficult this year - and this had already been starting to show.

"We have a lot of challenges in Ballarat including mental health, loneliness and the elderly. We also coordinate home visits for the elderly and sometimes all they want is someone to talk to," Mr West said.

"We're acutely aware people are more fragile now in lockdown...The 3BA Winter Appeal is so important with good stock to pass on."

The 3BA Winter Appeal has partnered up with City of Ballarat as an extension of its food relief campaign.

Radio Ballarat general manager John Fitzgibbon and appeals ambassador Peter Caligari said they had never experienced an appeal quite like this with an unknown and certain to be unprecedented demand.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the 2008 Global Financial Crisis had added pressure on welfare agencies but the situation now was different again - and this needed a whole city approach.

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"People have been through a lot and there's already been asked a lot of Ballarat, like the bushfire appeals, but we're asking people to do what they can," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"We understand a lot of families out there are doing it tough with COVID-19 but we want to show the whole of Ballarat is still there for support.

"We do need a coordinated effort drawing our work together to make sure the relief we're providing with be maximised as much as possible."

The 3BA station remains closed to the public under lockdown restrictions. All food donations can be dropped at the Salvation Army, on the corner of Main Road and Eureka Street, or City of Ballarat's relief collection site at Morshead Park soccer facilities on Pleasant Street.

Mr Fitzgibbon said cash donations allow the flexibility to respond to agencies' immediate needs. All donations will be shared between Salvation Army, Uniting Ballarat, St Vincent de Paul's and Anglicare in their relief work in the Ballarat.

City of Ballarat mayor Ben Taylor donated $1000 from the city to launch the appeal on Tuesday with 16 food pallets from MaxiTrans. O'Neil transport made in-kind deliveries to agencies for the first round of food stock.

Cr Taylor said the community had already shown how compassionate and generous it could be in the City's food relief campaign. He was proud of what Ballarat had achieved and encouraged people to draw together again to ensure no person fell through the cracks.

Cash donations can be made via 3ba.com.au.

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