Anglicare Campbelltown will be turning away more than 20 people a day in the lead up to Christmas as a capacity report reveals the welfare organisation is struggling to meet the increased need this festive season.

“Christmas is a time when many of our clients face particular hardship through financial need, family crisis and loneliness,” says Campbelltown Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Maria Kelly.

“We try and do what we can, but there seems to be a greater influx of people coming to see us during this time.”

For the last few months the centre has been seeing more than 400 people a month in need of emergency food parcels or vouchers for electricity and gas bills.

Even though appointments are made daily, Ms Kelly says she has seen days where half a dozen people are waiting on the doorstep before the office opens.

All appointments for the day are often filled by 9:30am - 30 minutes after the centre opens.

“Some have been referred to us by other welfare agencies, and we try to help as many as we can,” Ms Kelly says.

A recent report on the level of need seen by Anglicare in the lead up to Christmas reveals the organisation’s Campbelltown services are just one of many emergency relief centres struggling to meet the needs of their clientele.

The report shows services are either unable to see the number of clients asking for appointments or do not have the resources in energy vouchers or food to meet their needs.

“Most people we turn away ring first thing the next morning. We also try to refer others on to different agencies if we can’t help them that day,” Ms Kelly says.

“The number of people we turn away also increases when we run out of vouchers for electricity and gas, or after Christmas hamper lists have been completed. It is concerning because we know that there will be people going without food or power during this time.”

Anglicare is desperately appealing to the community to act compassionately and to reach out to those struggling to make ends meet this Christmas.

Those interested in donating food to Anglicare’s Christmas campaign can do so directly to the Campbelltown office or at the electoral office of Pat Farmer, MP for Macarthur at 300 Queen Street, Campbelltown and Chris Hayes, MP for Werriwa at Suite 1, Level 1, 2 Oxford Road, Ingleburn.

Those wishing to support Anglicare’s work financially can do so by calling 13 26 22.