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Australia’s grassroots charities hit by the cost-of-living crises

Menchie Khairuddin May 30, 2023

2 min read

With continued rising interest rates, inflation and pressures associated with the increased cost of living, more and more Aussies are turning to charities for support across a range of services, putting added pressure on organisations already struggling to meet community demands.

The Petstock Foundation will be hosting its national Home Town Heroes initiative which aims to raise awareness and financial support to assist over 40 grassroots partner organisations in helping their local communities Australia-wide.

“In speaking to charities across the country, we’re hearing donations are dwindling and smaller enterprises are at risk of becoming overburdened as people prioritise their spending, which in turn is impacting local communities reliant on ongoing financial support, volunteer programs and resourcing help,” said Sherralea Cassidy, Operations Lead for the Petstock Foundation.

The Petstock Foundation, the charity arm of the Petstock Group, is working alongside many community charities with links back to our beloved pets.

Cassidy said many not-for-profits are experiencing increases in the demand for their services across the board, yet there’s been a significant decrease in terms of financial donations and volunteer time to keep grassroots charities afloat in recent months.

A study reporting on the not-for-profit sector1 in Australia revealed the industry remains under considerable financial pressure. The report uncovered that profitability has continued to decline, with about 50 per cent of organisations making a loss or only breaking even.

The Home Town Heroes initiative aims to raise over $100,000 for its charity partners most in need, through a dedicated donation program with the help of animal lovers across the country who are able to spare some change.

“For this year’s Home Town Heroes campaign and for the first time ever, Petstock stores across the country have been given the opportunity to individually select their very own local grassroots charity hero which often gets overlooked in place of larger state-based charities.”

While research from Mccrindle maintains charitable giving has traditionally remained strong in Australia compared to other countries, their most recent data suggests nearly one in five Australians do not give at all. And it is with no surprise industry experts are predicting a rise in these figures in the short term as economic hardships and challenges continue in 2023.

“In addition to Petstock’s pledge of $50,000, proceeds raised next month will financially benefit these community-driven organisations, enabling them to continue to focus on the very important on-the-ground work they do to provide the best outcomes and responses to their individual community needs,” added Sherralea.

“Whether you choose to purchase a helping heart or kindly donate a gold coin at the counter – every little bit counts in helping our partner charities empower a better future for people and pets most in need in their local communities.”

Menchie Khairuddin

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Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.