By Parker McKenzie
While emergency relief services in the Dandenong Ranges have seen people needing assistance after flooding, the number one issue is still cost of living pressures.
Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service manager Tania Bevan said the not-for-profit has been busy with people struggling with the rising cost of living, but they have also seen people who have needed assistance after the recent heavy rain.
“We have been helping people affected by the floods as well, mainly people who generally couldn’t afford things that most people can,” she said.
“Stuff like dehumidifiers for houses that are going mouldy and replacing items that they don’t have insurance for because they’re renting.”
Judy Thornbury from Open Door Community Care, a Monbulk not-for-profit running a food pantry, said while they lost power during the recent heavy rain and flooding, they fortunately didn’t lose any of their foodstuffs.
“We’ve had a few people who were flooded out and we’re continuing to do our food deliveries and the food pantry,” she said.
“I tallied it up for the first time and we had 384 people come through last month.”
Ms Thornbury said many people are still struggling to handle the rising cost of living and inflation, which makes up most of the people they see at the food pantry.
For DRERS, the best way for people to assist in financial assistance according to Ms Bevan.
“They might need to hire a skip if the council isn’t able to help clean, we can pay for it or also assist them with medical bills if they have respiratory problems caused by a mouldy house,” she said.
“Financial assistance is always the very best way to help because it allows us flexibility in how we can respond to what people need. If people are happy to donate food, that’s something that we always need help with.”
She said currently, DRES has a shortage of long-life milk and this is one of the best non-perishable foods to donate.
The Dandenong Ranges Relief Service is located at 1616/1624 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave and more information can be found at DRERS.org.au
Open Door Pantry is located at the Open Door Community Church on the corner of Moxham and David Hill Road Monbulk.
