Parents unable to buy bread and spreads to make sandwiches for their children to take to school are among the 1300 people helped by the St Vincent de Paul Society in Dubbo in the year ending May 11.
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"Dubbo Vinnies" received an average three to four requests for food each day in the period.
Members responded with big and small parcels of groceries such as meat, bread, cheese, eggs, milk, margarine, biscuits and teabags.
More than 1400 food parcels costing $75,000 were distributed to people who were short of money for reasons including debt, rental costs, addictions, poor financial skills and job losses.
On June 22 and 23, Dubbo Vinnies will launch its three-week 2019 Winter Appeal at masses at St Brigid's Catholic Church in the hope of raising about $6000.
Members Ian Wray and Dan Sullivan are asking the community and businesses to support the work of Dubbo Vinnies which spent a total of $100,000 on people in need in the 12 months.
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Along with food parcels, Dubbo Vinnies also found beds.
"Members assisted people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence and people exiting correction centres with accommodation costing $16,000," Mr Wray said.
Mr Sullivan said among the 1300 recipients were 477 people getting the Newstart Allowance.
He says they "financially struggle to pay rent, energy costs, food and other expenses".
Members supported people in using the NSW government's Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme (EAPA).
"Members interviewed and assessed 288 people applying for $50 online EAPA vouchers," Mr Sullivan said.
"A total cost of $84,426 for EAPA online voucher transactions for eligible customers were completed."
Mr Wray and Mr Sullivan have thanked the community for its good-quality donations to the Vinnies shop at 126 Brisbane Street.
The proceeds of sales go to its welfare work.
Tax-deductible donations to the appeal can be left at the shop where receipts will be issued.
Envelopes will be provided for people to leave credit card details or cheques.
The winter appeal will be launched on the same weekend that Dubbo Vinnies holds its sleepout and community dinner at St Brigid's Parish Hall.
