Toowoomba’s Base Services charity in ‘desperate’ financial situation as cost-of-living crisis deepens

FREE READ: The couple behind one of Toowoomba’s most beloved charities is in dire financial straits because of the city’s rising cost-of-living crisis. How you can help here:

One of Toowoomba’s longest-running charities is considering cutting services or even turning people away thanks to Australia’s cost-of-living crisis.

The Base Services has never been busier as struggling residents pack out its Neil Street soup kitchen every day to get a hot meal and food packs.

But co-ordinators Nat and Tiff Spary said the charity was now facing “desperate times”, as the rising cost of food, electricity and other essential services bled their bank account dry.

The couple said as many as 100 people, including large families, were asking for help at a time.

Mr Spary said these factors and the loss of regular donors had created a “perfect storm” that was forcing the couple to consider drastic changes.

“The costs have risen, the figures for food are shocking — when we buy meat, that’s increased by a lot, along with our normal staples,” he said.

“We’ve got an empty bank balance and a lot of our regular givers aren’t giving because they can’t afford it.

“It’s a lot fewer people who are contributing, and we’re going from fortnight to fortnight.

“It’s the cost of living that’s really affecting us — our gas and electricity bills, it’s mind-blowing.”

Tiffany and Nat Spary.

The couple said while the service was not prepared to turn people away, changes would need to be made soon.

“There are so many more people asking for help, it’s just making our budget go up — we don’t want to turn people away,” Mrs Spary said.

“What I really feel is we might have to stop doing our homeless hampers,” Mr Spary added.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in people asking for hampers and homeless people coming to use (them) saying they have nothing to eat tonight.”

The crisis is not isolated to the Base Services, with a huge number of charities suffering from fewer donations, higher operating costs and more demand for services and products.

Mr Spary urged residents to give what they could to local organisations.

“I sense there is a lot more hardship to come for people who are struggling – it’s going to get worse before it’s get better,” he said.

You can donate to the Base Services by click here or making a deposit using a BSB of 034221 and account number of 629828, providing your surname as the reference.

Cash and cheques can also be dropped off to its Thomas Street office.

You can also donate to other Toowoomba charities here.