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Winter Appeal 2021

BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

2021 Lutheran Care Winter Appeal letter

Dear Valued Supporter,

Winter means hardship for many families but this year they will be forced to feed and clothe their loved ones on much less. With pandemic supplement programs like JobSeeker and JobKeeper having ended, many households will be left struggling to pay the bills this winter. Some will be forced to make difficult choices, while others will be plunged into debt. Lutheran Care helps our community’s most vulnerable through these crises every winter.

When Jim and Debbie came to Lutheran Care seven years ago, they were struggling to afford basic necessities. Jim had been forced to quit his construction job of 25 years because of a devastating back injury. Meanwhile, Debbie had to leave her work at a cafe to support their sons who both suffer severe mental health issues. The family relied on government support to get by but it wasn’t always enough. They would sometimes go without dinner so they could pay for their sons’ medication and treatment.

Unfortunately, sometimes when it rains, it pours. Jim and Debbie’s daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with cancer. Devastated over the diagnosis and stressed over the additional costs, Debbie didn’t know how they would continue to afford the children’s medical bills. After several sleepless nights, the couple decided to take out a loan. Before long, the family was struggling with repayments and a growing debt.

Heading into another long Adelaide winter, with bills so overdue that the utility companies were threatening to cut the family off, they realised they needed immediate help. That’s when they came to Lutheran Care.

Through our Emergency Relief (ER) program, we provided the family with free food from our food pantry, as well as clothing vouchers. Debbie said she felt like a weight had been lifted, knowing her family could be fed and clothed, particularly entering the colder months. It gave the family some breathing room so they weren’t just living hand to mouth. This enabled them to pay their overdue utility bills, and fortunately, keep the cold at bay.

One of our Financial Counsellors began working with Jim and Debbie to help them take back control of their finances. Financial Counsellors help people build healthy financial behaviours and can also negotiate with creditors on their behalf. Today, their lives are no longer shrouded in debt. The couple have completely paid off one of their major debts and the other is being paid off with a payment plan we negotiated for them. They stick to their budget and feel more confident with making financial decisions.

Best of all, Sarah’s cancer is now in remission. She has recently enquired about volunteering at Lutheran Care, wanting to help out other families, who, like her own, have been facing hardship.

Our continued support for families like this depends on your generosity. Your donations allow us to provide the community’s most vulnerable with help getting back on their feet. With more families than ever crying out for help, your donation has never been so important.

Thank you for your financial support.

To respond to the needs we see in our community, we rely on the generosity, partnership and financial support of our donors. We are thankful for them, many of whom give sacrificially in order to see the important work continue.

Lutheran Care receives State and Federal government funding for some of our services. However, this funding must be used for that specific program. Your ongoing support helps to fill the gaps and fund many of our services which do not receive funding. Your donation helps ensure the ongoing success of Lutheran Care building 'strong caring communities' in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Thank you and God bless.