Wānaka’s Community Link says it is seeing an increase in demand for its services from a range of locals including two-parent working families, with a lot of locals “living week to week”.

Community Link general manager Kate Murray said the increase in demand raises the question of what sort of community we want to create.

“Do we want kids in the community to grow up [going cold],” she said.

The local non-profit hopes to raise $60,000 with its ‘Cold Kids’ campaign, which is how much it estimates it will need this year to help the increasing number of local families unable to steadily cover winter heating costs

It’s not just about warm layers: WHO recommends a minimum temperature of 18 degrees within the home. PHOTO: Supplied

Kate said the health effects of being cold put stress on the body, which can affect children’s ability to learn at school, among other negative effects. 

It’s not just about providing warm layers either - the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a minimum indoor temperature of 18 degrees inside the home for physical health.

Community Link has projected $60,000 for this year’s heating cost needs following a $45,000 spend last year and early signs of increased demand this winter.

The organisation is keenly aware of the increasing number of people struggling to fund the cost of basic necessities.

Use of the Community Link food bank, a helpful measure for need in the community, went up 21 percent this March compared to March 2024.

More than 100 food parcels from Wānaka’s Food Bank were provided last month, demonstrating an increase in demand - and need - across multiple services. PHOTO: Community Link

Thirteen new families who had never before needed the food bank’s services signed up in March and 111 food parcels were provided across the month - a “huge” number, Kate said.

Kate said with a lot of locals in difficult financial positions the increase in demand for Community Link’s services “will likely keep on happening”.

“We’re not out of the woods. With the cost of living, people are really struggling.”

Community Link is not government-funded and it is calling on the local community to contribute to Cold Kids to help ensure every local family has a warm home this winter.

All money donated to Cold Kids will go to households who have been assessed to have demonstrable need for support, which is provided either via firewood or a contribution to gas or electricity costs.

Make a financial donation at the Community Link website or get in touch at 03 443 7749 if you would like to donate firewood or support the campaign in another way.

PHOTO: Wānaka App