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Subscriber only NEW data has confirmed those doing it tough in Ipswich are in need of food, housing and emergency relief. Details released by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) revealed 33,000 searches had been made by people seeking support across thousands of community support services statewide. Between October and December searches for crisis relief increased by 14 per cent since the July to September period. A QFCC spokeswoman told the Queensland Times those doing it tough in Ipswich were reflected in the statewide trend, with 33 per cent in need of food, 22 per cent in need of emergency relief and 21 per cent struggling with housing issues.
Community groups fill Christmas void for Queensland families hit by coronavirus after charities drop out
By state political reporter Stephanie Zillman
Posted
ThuThursday 24
updated
FriFriday 25
The annual community Christmas lunch on the Gold Coast will be scaled back this year.
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For a few hours today, the unpaid bills, the car with no fuel, and even the eviction notices will be put to one side.
Key points:
Social workers say many Queensland families are struggling to make ends meet
Christmas lunches in Ipswich and the Gold Coast have had to turn people away
In its place, there is a community that is pulling together to throw a Christmas lunch, and offer some hope to people who feel they have very little.
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We are all familiar with that romantic, ‘Peace on Earth’ Christmas fantasy depicted in Hollywood movies, where families stroll snow-lined streets without a care in the world, and everyone is smiling and happy, and looking forward to unwrapping all those presents under the tree.
Unfortunately, we know the real world is not like that, and not least for the lack of snow.
It has been a tough year for everybody, and for those families who were already struggling, events of 2020 may well have tipped them over the edge.
While the Christmas fantasy is just a fantasy, the Christmas spirit is real within the Ipswich community, and it was particularly evident this year.
He said the hampers would help make Christmas more special for local families.
“Students have worked tirelessly for this very worthy cause,” Mr Scarr said.
“To see the faces of the children as they collected their gingerbread Christmas trees was an absolute delight and will be a memory I take with me of Christmas 2020.”
The students made 25 gingerbread trees, 50 packets of mini gingerbread men, 40 mini Christmas puddings and 50 Christmas cakes.