Regional manager David Murphy said requests for help were about the same now as when lockdown was first introduced last year.
“So as with last year, we are expecting a boom in need as lockdown eases before residents are able to get back to work,” he said.
“The new digital cards have also been introduced to keep our residents safe so they don’t have to leave their homes to come to see us; they can simply call 13 18 12, press option 4 for the welfare line and be automatically transferred to the Bankstown office.
“You will then be sent a link for the card which can be used at Coles or Woolworths.”
Mr Murphy said the cards would only hold a $20 or $40 in value but that would certainly help to put food on the table.
“We’re not doing home visits at the moment to keep many of our older volunteers, as well as our clients, safe during the pandemic,” he said.
“We are getting anxious about the next few weeks, though, since unlike last year, there is no jobseeker or jobkeeper on offer this year.”
