Salvation Army desperate for help as winter months hit Rotorua families hard

Rotorua Salvation Army corps officer Kylie Overbye at the food bank. Photo / File

The Salvation Army is appealing to the public to help those living in poverty over the colder months by donating to its Winter Appeal, which launches today.

The Rotorua centre has a consistently high demand across winter with more than 30 people through the doors every week seeking social welfare help with basic needs predominately for food and blankets.

Many people also access budgeting advice, counselling, parenting and positive lifestyle programmes, and ask for help with loans and transitional housing.

The Salvation Army's national director of community ministries Jono Bell said vulnerable people struggled with warmth, shelter and food over the winter period, which could exacerbate or cause health problems.

"Substandard housing and poor heating often lead to sickness and people don't always get to a doctor when they should."

The latest Ministry of Health's annual data explorer found around one in seven adults were not visiting a GP due to cost, and this figure had not changed significantly from 2011.

"It's not only the fees that can be a barrier, but also transport costs to get there," Bell said.

"Even with free doctors' visits for children under 13, if there's no car, no petrol and no bus money, it's near impossible for some whānau."

Bell said children from the most disadvantaged communities were twice as likely to end up in hospital for medical conditions and three times more likely to be hospitalised for respiratory conditions compared to those from advantaged communities.

The organisation is pleading for those more fortunate to dig deep and donate to its Winter Appeal launching today to ensure they can provide services to the 120,000 people who use it a year.

"Our work will not let up in the coming months as people continue to struggle with keeping the house warm and food on the table."

The Salvation Army Winter Appeal runs from July 8 until the end of the month and people can donate by visiting The Salvation Army website.