After six years of compounded crises - from natural disasters to the pandemic and economic instability - millions of Australians are doing it tougher than ever.

Last Christmas, half of Aussies were stressed about affording presents and meals, 29% said their children would miss out on gifts, and 8% felt they might need to reach out for help from a charity at Christmas.

This year, while there are signs of economic recovery, the reality for many remains bleak. Too many Australians are facing impossible choices - like whether to put food on the table or keep a roof over their heads.

That’s why The Salvation Army is once again appealing for donations in our stores. Combined with the proceeds from purchases in-store, every contribution helps us support individuals and families who need it most.

FAQs:

Where do the funds go?

Too many people in our community are going without food, medication and utilities, and many more don’t even have housing. In lots of cases, this means there is no Christmas for families doing it tough. This is where The Salvation Army step in, providing food, presents, support with bills and safe housing.

Christmas Appeal funds help The Salvation Army deliver vital community programs and social services, such as:

• Emergency financial assistance
• Food and gift hampers
• Toys for children who might go without presents
• Refuge for women and children in crisis
• Shelters for those facing homelessness
• Emergency and disaster relief
• Drug and alcohol addiction recovery and rehabilitation support
• And much more!

How does the Christmas Appeal help?

All funds raised through the Christmas Appeal help vulnerable Aussies facing crisis, hardship or isolation. Last year (2025) The Salvation Army:

• Helped three people every minute
• Assisted 218,000 people across all social programs
• Provided nearly 324,000 sessions of care to people in need
• Distributed over 17 million in financial assistance
• Provided more than 1 million nights of accommodation
• Served more than 1.3 million meals to those staying in social mission centres
• Provided Christmas presents to more than 22,000 families struggling.

Do profits from purchases already go toward supporting The Salvation Army’s programs and services?

Yes, and we’re incredibly grateful when people choose to shop at Salvos Stores. Every purchase helps support The Salvation Army’s programs and services while also giving goods a second life. During the Christmas Appeal, an additional donation can help us respond to the increased demand for support at a time when many individuals and families are doing it tough, helping us reach more people in need.

Do donations go directly toward providing a meal?

The Salvation Army provides over a million meals to people in need every year - made possible through the generous support of the Australian public. While your donation might

help provide someone with a hot meal, it could also fund other vital community programs that support people doing it tough. All donations made in-store through our Christmas Appeal go directly toward helping those in need, in the way they need it most.

Do you have to donate $10?

$10 is simply a suggested donation amount. When it comes to donations, every little bit helps so whether that means donating $2 or $200 support is always appreciated. $10 will provide someone in need with a hearty meal this Christmas, donations below this will cover a portion of this cost.

You can find out more about The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal as well as resources to help those in need during this time of year here: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/christmas/

We appreciate your ongoing support.