School donation of shoes to Red Shield Appeal helps people experiencing disadvantage

Ballarat Grammar donated $4000 worth of shoe vouchers received from The Athlete's Foot through its school rewards program.

A $5 store voucher is donated to Ballarat schools for every pair of school shoes purchased at the store.

Salvation Army homelessness Ballarat manager Kellie Brown said the vouchers would purchase about 50 school shoes or runners for young people who did not own quality shoes.

"Coming into winter, it is just great," she said.

Salvation Army homelessness chaplain Fiona White said some children were excluded from school programs and after school activities because they did not own appropriate shoes.

Ballarat Grammar director leadership and service Adele Ryan said the school had supported the Red Shield Appeal for about 20 years.

Year 12 students Henry Tickner, Ruby Riordan and Sam Breuer participated in the doornock for the appeal two years ago with about 200 others students collecting donations across Ballarat.

The donation of shoe vouchers is a new way to support the appeal with COVID-19 restrictions meaning the physical doornock has been replaced by digital campaigns this year.

Ruby said being apart of the Red Shield Appeal was an easy way to make a difference in the community.

"The has school really opened our eyes up to helping the wider community," fellow student Sam said.

"They played a really big part in motivating us and opening our eyes to what it means to some people to have us helping out."

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All funds donated to the Red Shield Appeal in Ballarat are used locally to support programs including homelessness services, emergency relief and youth services.

The LARF youth mentor program and occasional childcare for disadvantaged families are two programs that would not exist without Red Shield Appeal funding.

Ms Brown said there was a great need for funding to support Ballarat Salvation Army programs.

New research shows the most vulnerable people in our community are struggling to pay for necessities including food, housing and medication.

Data from a Salvation Army survey of its clients reveals 93 per cent of respondents were experiencing housing stress, which means paying more than 30 per cent of income on housing.

The survey results released on Wednesday show 86 per cent of clients were in extreme housing stress, paying more than 50 per cent of their income on housing.

In Victoria, 40 per cent of clients said their housing costs exceeded their income.

Salvation Army Victoria public relations secretary Major Warren Elliott said the survey results were somewhat expected but the seriousness of the issues people were facing was surprising.

"The numbers were a little bit higher than we expected to see too," he said.

"Almost everyone who responded to our survey was experiencing stress with their housing.

"That means things like 45 per cent were going without meals so they could pay their housing costs, 53 per cent were not able to afford medical or dental treatment if needed.

"30 per cent were not able to afford home internet connection. It is those little things most people take for granted they were no longer able to do."

There was a 22 per cent increase in the number of people assisted by the Salvation Army in Victoria in 2020 compared to 2019.

Mr Elliott said the increasing numbers of people seeking support meant Salvation Army's reliance on the Red Shield Appeal this year was high.

Research found people on government support payments in Victoria were left with only $10 a day after paying for housing costs, $1 less than the national average.

Almost half of survey respondents in Victoria said they were 'very worried' about their future financial situation.

Mr Elliott said it was devastating to see the effects of COVID-19 on the community.

"The past year has shown us that anyone can find themselves in crisis, and this has manifested in The Salvos seeing people we have never seen before coming to us for support," he said.

Almost 1000 people responded to The Salvation Army's online questionnaire.

Visit salvationarmy.org.au/red-shield-appeal/ to make a donation.

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