‘Can’t afford milk’: Shocking reality of grocery price spike

Toilet paper is now considered a luxury for many Toowoomba families as charities struggle to help the vulnerable. Full story here.

The weekly grocery shop is becoming an ever-growing battle for families across the region as the cost of basic food items such as fruit, vegetables and meat soars.

Kylie Jennings, along with her husband Michael, run Loaves and Fishes for families doing it tough.

But as the number of people needing their help has increased, so has the cost of the food they need to create hampers.

As an example, a meat pallet which previously cost them between $5-6 is now costing up to $50.

“We have had a growing number of people looking for food hampers, but there is only a limited number of hampers we can do, so we’ve had to start emergency packs to keep them going,” Mrs Jennings said.

“Some of our prices from Foodbank have doubled, so it has really hit us hard.

“It has become extremely difficult for us, and that is why we are in the position where we can’t give away as many free hampers as we were doing.”

Michael and Kylie Jennings run Loaves and Fishes Care Services Toowoomba. Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Mother and customer at Loaves and Fishes, Heidi Williamson said the increase in her weekly grocery shop meant she was unable to continue shopping at the major stores.

“If we have to shop at say IGA, Woolies or Aldi we are up for around $400, so if we can subsidise some of that in here then that is what we do,” Ms Williamson said.

“It is the only way we have been able to buy groceries,” she said.

“My husband can’t leave the house some days because there is that much stress about the rising cost of living.

“We have had to change the way we eat because we can’t afford to pay $7 for a lettuce.”

Ms Williamson and her family are past the point of reducing “luxury” grocery items.

She said for her children milk was a luxury.

“Luxuries in our house are toilet paper and milk, milk has doubled in price.

“So we are having to substitute milk for half fresh and half powered milk,” Ms Williamson said.