Local branches of the Australian Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul Society, The Salvation Army and The Smith Family are all holding winter appeals, seeking either financial or clothing donations.

With residents in Dubbo using more than double the amount of electricity in winter than their city counterparts, and predicted low June temperatures, the organisations expect to see an increase in the number of people seeking assistance this winter.

Based on the Australian Energy Regulator’s average household electricity usage calculation, a standard hour-person home in Dubbo uses on average 27.7 kilowatt-hour (kWh) per day and 2528 kWh over winter.

In Sydney, the average fourperson household uses 15.6 kWh per day and 1427 kWh for winter.

Dubbo volunteers at the Australian Red Cross are urging residents to take part in their Winter Woollies major donation drive.

Store manager, Julie Warren, said while their store does not seek financial donations, they were hoping for an increase of jumpers and jacket donations, to keep up with the high demand.

Ms Warren said an average of 70 people a day entered the Red Cross shop during the winter season.

St Vincent de Paul Society Winter Appeal coordinator, Dan Sullivan, said the Dubbo branch had already raised $6314 of donations to assist feeding the hungry and provide bedding for the homeless.

Mr Sullivan said the organisation aimed to assist the continuous needs of the community throughout the year through clothing and food distribution, and emergency accommodation.

In the 10-month period from July 2014 to April 2015, the centre helped 916 clients, 386 males and 530 females, who were caring for a total of 842 children.

Salvation Army Lieutenant Mark Townsend, said the organisation’s main event, The Red Shield Appeal, would hopefully be its biggest one yet. Last year the Dubbo Salvos raised $18,000 from the appeal and hope to beat that this year.

Lieutenant Townsend said volunteers had been stationed at Macquarie Street, Talbragar Street, Orana Mall and Bunnings Warehouse to collect donations before the door knock on Sunday, May 31.

He said the Salvation Army Family Store in Dubbo served more than 1000 people a week, with the demand increasing as daily temperatures drop. 

A spokesperson from the Dubbo branch said the campaign aimed to raise greater awareness of how family hardships could damage a child’s education. They are calling for financial donations to be made in store, to further fund their before and afterschool learning programs.