Woman caught on camera helping herself to Toowoomba charity bin donations

A Toowoomba woman has been spotted helping herself to donations left at a charity bin at a time of year when many families are relying on the goodwill and generosity of the community to make ends meet.

Lifeline Darling Downs chief executive Rachelle Patterson has called on the public not to leave donations outside charity bins after a woman was spotted helping herself to items left at a Toowoomba collection bin. Photo: Supplied

A woman has been spotted helping herself to donations left at a Toowoomba charity bin at a time of year when many families are relying on the goodwill and generosity of the community to make ends meet.

The incident occurred two weeks ago at the Lifeline collection bins on the corner of Anzac Ave and Boothby St in Toowoomba.

Lifeline Darling Downs and South West QLD chief executive Rachelle Patterson said the incident, which has been reported to police, was “opportunistic”.

“As people have become more desperate, there have been some who have seen this as an opportunity to really take advantage of the goodwill of members of the community,” she said.

“There’s a few people that are doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason, not because they have genuine need.

“For this reason we ask people not to leave donations outside of the bin.

“Anyone who requires assistance can always come and see us and we will always provide people with the basic needs that they require.”

Ms Patterson said the level of need in the community had increased in the past 18 months.

“We are seeing an increase in the complexity of people who walk through our doors,” she said.

Lifeline Darling Downs chief executive Rachelle Patterson Picture: Kevin Farmer

“The majority of people walking in our doors have a multitude of very complex issues going on in their life.

“They might be experiencing financial distress, domestic family violence, separation, significant health issues.”

With rental vacancy rates across the Darling Downs at record lows, housing and homelessness are among the biggest challenges facing frontline support services.

“We are seeing an incredible number of people who are homeless and that includes people who are rough sleeping or couch surfing,” she said.

“Quite often – and this is new – a lot of people are employed, they have jobs but they aren’t surviving.

“As soon as you don’t have stable accommodation, everything else tends to unravel.”

Ms Patterson said there needed to be a “commitment from all levels of government” to address the problem.

“We need to know where, when, what number of them are affordable houses, what number of them are social housing,” she said.

“I don’t mean for the next six months or 12 months, but we need a five to ten year plan for our region.”

Originally published as Woman caught on camera helping herself to Toowoomba charity bin donations