General News
17 May, 2026
Salvos say more locals seeking help for first time
THE Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal is under way, with Greater Grampians Salvation Army Major Jacky Targett urging residents to remember that money donated locally stays local.
Major Targett said the annual appeal remained one of the Salvos’ most important fundraising efforts, supporting people facing hardship across Australia and in communities including Ararat, Stawell and surrounding districts.
She said demand for support had become relentless.
“The Salvos are now seeing someone every 17 seconds across Australia,” Major Targett said.
“That’s not Monday to Friday, nine to five. That’s over 24 hours, seven days a week.”
Major Targett said people were seeking help for a wide range of reasons, including domestic violence, separation, ageing, hunger, housing stress and financial pressure.
She said the profile of people needing assistance had also broadened, with pensioners, young mothers, older residents and working people among those presenting for support.
“We’re having pensioners who are coming to see us for the very first time,” she said.
“We’re having young mothers who have suddenly given up work to have the baby for a bit, and it’s just all too much.
“We’re just seeing people for the first time, right across the board.”
Major Targett said some people were working part-time, or even holding down multiple part-time jobs, but still could not make ends meet.
She said donations to the Red Shield Appeal helped the Salvos respond in practical ways, including through food vouchers, food parcels, welfare assistance, thrift shop vouchers, community meals, material aid and support for people moving into housing.
Importantly, she said money donated in the local region was not redirected elsewhere.
“If the money comes into Stawell or the money comes into Ararat, that’s where it stays,” she said.
“What comes into our regions stays in our regions.”
Major Targett said donors could also nominate a specific purpose, such as support for young mothers, Christmas hampers, emergency relief or new home packs.
“If they identify that’s where they want it to go, then that’s where it goes,” she said.
She said there were no local administration costs deducted from donations because the Salvation Army’s local infrastructure was already in place.
“It’s dollar for dollar,” she said.
“Whatever comes in goes straight back out.”
Major Targett said assistance could be as simple as helping someone with food, clothing, household items or a place to sit and talk.
“This is the place that they can come to knowing that we’re here,” she said.
“If they want somebody to talk to, they want somebody to sit with, they want a meal — all of those things, we can do from here.”
While May is the Red Shield Appeal month, Major Targett said donations could be made at any time.
She said people could donate through the thrift shop, by QR code, online, EFTPOS or other payment methods.
“The easiest way is either to get on the website, or actually walk into the thrift shop and speak to somebody,” she said.