New research being released by the Salvos shows the real level of suffering many families and individuals across the nation will experience this Christmas.

An increasing number of people struggle to buy presents for their kids and enjoy a celebration that many take for granted, and the Sapphire Coast is not immune. 

Volunteers with the Merimbula Salvos store and Merimbula Vinnies are working hard to ease the stress felt by local families and individuals who are doing it tough, but they said there is always more to be done. 

Thankfully, the Sapphire Coast Community Christmas Lunch team will step in again this year, for the fourth year in a row, to bring joy and a hot meal to those who may otherwise miss out.

Event organiser Janita Fernando said one gentleman, who has attended the past three lunches, said after his first Christmas Lunch that it was the first time he had seen another person on Christmas Day in seven years.

“There are a lot of people in our area who spend Christmas Day alone, they can feel very isolated,” Ms Fernando said. 

But Christmas isn’t just hard for those who are lonely, for some it can also be the most feared time of the whole year.

Domestic violence rises significantly during the festive period, with police continuously noticing a seasonal spike in reported incidents.

Experts claim the the combination of financial pressure, free-flowing alcohol and being cooped up in closed quarters – sometimes with family that don’t get along – exerts additional burden on relationships. 

This pressure is magnified in already abusive relationships.

“There is so much expectation in regards to Christmas and if you can’t live up to that you can feel like you’ve failed,” Eden Uniting Church Pastor Pam Skelton said. 

“Unemployment or underemployment and increasing living costs effects so many people in the Eden area and sometimes the stress of Christmas can be too much for people to handle.”

Ms Fernando said now is the time to talk to your neighbours, friends and even family, to see if they need help to get through this hard time.

“We want to get people thinking outside of their immediate family, to reach the whole community,” she said. “Let’s help make Christmas a little easier for those in need.” 

This year the Sapphire Coast Community Christmas Day Lunch will once again be held at Twyford Hall, Merimbula, and the Eden Uniting Church.

Volunteers are need both on the day and in the lead up to the lunch. If anyone would like attend, volunteer or make a donation to the Sapphire Coast Community Christmas Lunches please call Pastor Pam Skelton on 6496 2501 or Janita Fernando on 0427 298 432.