Salvation Army offers support as more than eight million Australians financially stressed 25/12/2020|6min
The Salvation Army has found one in eight Australians will go into debt this year, but the charity’s Major Bruce Harmer says the organisation is eager to provide support. “Debt is a huge issue at Christmas time, we know that people overspend, and that’s the challenge that we face this year,” he told Sky News.
“Helping people get through Christmas is one thing, then helping them deal with their debt in the new year … that’s a real challenge for the Salvation Army.
“We have to deal with this debt issue every year and we’re looking forward to supporting the Australian community again this year .
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While it’s often spruiked as the happiest time of the year, Christmas can also be lonely and stressful.
And during a challenging year upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, charities and services say more Australians have been feeling the strain as they grapple with the emotional and financial fallout of 2020.
The Salvation Army is always busiest at this time of year as it provides hampers, gifts, meals and accommodation for those in need, but the organisation expects Christmas 2020 to be its biggest ever.
“There’s lots of new faces, lots of new people coming to the army who quite possibly were donors last year,” the organisation’s national public relations secretary Bruce Harmer told SBS News. “This year they’re needing our support.”
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