When temperatures drop across Ballarat, many of us head home to a warm house, wrap ourselves in a blanket and put the kettle on.

For others, winter looks very different.

Some are sleeping in their cars, parked quietly in supermarket car parks, industrial areas or suburban streets. Others are rebuilding their lives after fleeing family violence, often with little more than the clothes they are wearing.

With cost of living pressures continuing to impact households, local support services are seeing more people seek assistance, many for the first time. The Ballarat Winter Appeal, coordinated by the Ballarat Foundation and proudly supported by 3BA and Power FM, brings together Anglicare Ballarat, Uniting Vic.Tas, The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul to provide food, warmth and essential support to local people experiencing hardship throughout winter.

This winter, the Ballarat community once again responded with remarkable generosity through the Ballarat Winter Appeal.

Thanks to donations of food, blankets, warm clothing and financial support, local emergency relief agencies have been able to respond quickly when people need help most. Through the Ballarat Winter Appeal, donated items and financial contributions are distributed to local organisations providing practical support to individuals and families experiencing hardship across our region. 

The appeal is made possible through the generosity of individuals, schools, community groups and local businesses. This year, the Ballarat Sportswomen's Association donated food, warm coats and financial support, while Step Up Support Services raised funds through its 'Grinchmas in July' fundraiser. Partnerships with organisations such as Blake Family Grocers and Creswick Woollen Mills have also helped ensure donations reach local people who need them most. 

For one local mother, that support came at exactly the right time.

Sarah*, a single mother, arrived in Ballarat with her children after fleeing family violence. With very few possessions and no support network, the family needed help to start again.

Through Anglicare Ballarat, Sarah received emergency food relief, household essentials and, thanks to donations through the Ballarat Winter Appeal, warm winter coats and blankets for each member of her family.

While these items may seem simple, they represented far more than protection from the cold. They brought comfort, security and the reassurance that her family had not been forgotten during one of the most challenging periods of their lives.

"I'm not comfortable asking for help. I really should have asked for help years ago when things got so bad. I don't think you'll ever know how much this means to me," Sarah said.

For people experiencing homelessness, a blanket can also mean the difference between enduring another freezing night in a car and having at least a small measure of comfort.

Not every blanket donated this winter will be spread across a bed. Some will be wrapped around people trying to sleep in the driver's seat of their car.

Every donation to the Ballarat Winter Appeal helps local agencies respond quickly with practical support, whether it's emergency food, warm clothing, blankets or financial assistance. Together, our community is helping ensure local people facing hardship are met with warmth, dignity and compassion when they need it most.

The Ballarat Foundation sincerely thanks everyone who supported this year's Ballarat Winter Appeal. Your generosity is helping local people through some of life's most difficult moments and reminding them they are not facing those challenges alone.

*Name changed to protect privacy.