“Between getting my boys and I out of an abusive home and the cost of living increase, we suddenly found ourselves surviving on very little.” – Ashley.

Ashley and her two boys have never had to ask for help.

But when Ashley had to flee the family home because of domestic violence and the cost-of-living crisis hit – it meant the cupboards were suddenly bare.

Ashley was once living the typical Australian dream, she had a growing family, a home, enough money in the bank and she could fill up her shopping trolley without worrying about the cost.

But behind closed doors, Ashley and her children were subject to domestic and family violence. For the sake of her family’s financial security, Ashley endured emotional and physical abuse, taking a significant toll on her mental and physical health.

The domestic abuse, left Ashley feeling powerless, lacking confidence and living in constant fear. Her ex-partner was the sole breadwinner, and she was a stay-at-home mum, making her feel like she had less status in their relationship.

“Even though I had access to money, the boys and I lived under the constant threat and intimidation. We couldn’t continue to live that way.”

When Ashley finally got the courage and support to leave her partner, she was left with no home, or financial stability, and her future seemed bleak.

“I suddenly found myself in a position that I never imagined. I had to get very creative about surviving on a limited amount of money and became hyper aware of how much everything cost in the shops.”

Luckily, she was able to move in with her dad, a pensioner, who provided them with a roof over their heads. However, with limited financial assistance, it was a daily struggle to provide food for her children.

This all took its toll on Ashley who shared:

“It makes me feel sad and angry that we’re in this position through no fault of our own. It makes me feel like I’m not a good enough mum because I can’t provide the home or the food I want for them.”

When she first accessed Foodbank, she was overwhelmed by the kindness of the volunteers and appreciated being able to get fresh fruit and veggies and healthy pantry staples for her and her boys.

Even then, there was deep shame she had to overcome, believing they weren’t deserving of receiving help. Her son was initially embarrassed they had to ask for help at Foodbank, saying, “We shouldn’t be here Mum.”

“Ethan soon realised it was a welcome relief for our family when we could start to access food and groceries at Foodbank and it helped that the Hub Manager always remembered him and always found him a special treat.”

It’s stories like these that show how hunger can affect anyone, at any time. But it’s also stories like these that show how Foodbank can make a massive difference.

Please give today to provide urgently needed staples for families like Ashley’s, who are struggling for the first time in their lives.

Sadly, Ashley’s story is not unique. Many families in South Australia are struggling to put food on the table, and hunger is becoming a real concern.

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting families in many ways.

The price of common groceries has jumped more than 8% in the past six months. The rental crisis has meant that some families can no longer afford a roof over their heads, while others are priced out of the housing market.

For many families, the increased cost of utility bills and mortgage repayments are crippling their budgets, leaving them with little left to spend on food.

We are seeing more and more first-time families, who feel ashamed and embarrassed to seek help but now have no choice but to ask for help.

The reality is that many South Australians are having to make difficult choices between basic necessities like food and shelter.

Our Food Hubs are seeing record numbers of recipients, with all locations reporting close to a 20% increase in demand. In some cases, our Hubs have doubled their referral numbers.

The statistics are alarming. We are seeing an exponential increase in demand for our services.

Families who were once able to manage are now finding themselves in need of our support. It’s heartbreaking to see families who are already struggling to make ends meet forced to skip meals or go
without food altogether.

The cost-of-living crisis is also putting a strain on Foodbank’s resources.

We are procuring more food than ever before to meet the current levels of demand, and it’s costing us more now than ever before.

The cost of purchasing food has doubled for many staple food items, and we have to help more people with the same amount of funding.

We also have to collect and distribute the food, and the increase in fuel prices has increased our costs associated with freight.

As you can see, the challenges we are facing are immense, and we need your help to overcome them. Your donation will go a long way in helping us provide food relief to families struggling to make ends meet.

Your donation will help us procure more food, pay for fuel costs, and cover other expenses associated with the delivery of food relief services to the nine Food Hubs and two mobile pantries in operation across South Australia and Central Australia.

It will also make a difference in the lives of families struggling to put food on the table. With your help, we can continue to provide food relief to those who need it the most.

The good news is that since Ashley and her children started accessing food relief from Foodbank, it has been a lifeline for them.

Foodbank provides them with food that they would not be able to afford otherwise. However, it’s not just about the food. Foodbank has given Ashley and her children hope that they will be able to get back on their feet someday.

Ashley has also started studying community services at university and is determined to use her experience to help others who are in the same position as her and help make a positive change in her community.

“I am grateful for the support and know that I won’t need it forever. Getting food from Foodbank means I can feed my boys nourishing meals, and I can get them fresh fruit and veggies which I wouldn’t be able to do if I had to go to the supermarket.”

Without the generous support of kind-hearted friends like you, Ashley and her boys would likely still be facing the excruciating reality of not knowing where their next meal was coming from.

This is a time when we all need to stand together, so, will you please stand with me now?

Help us get vital food to South Australians in need – and help vulnerable families and individuals overcome this crisis.