Christmas and New Year is an expensive time of the year with gifts to buy and visitors in the house. If the bills are coming in now, the post-Christmas budget can be stretched to breaking point.

Marlborough’s churches offer support to those in difficult circumstances and there are local organisations that can help you make ends meet:

Marlborough Community Foodbank

• Weekly food parcels are available. Anyone needing a food parcel should make contact first with a church, community support organisation or government agency.

Bread of Life

• Household linen for sale at very low prices. Staff can also help you prepare a household budget. 14B Stephenson Street, Ph: 03 578 1355 Monday to Friday, 8.30 am-4.30 pm.

John’s Kitchen

• A hot meal is served every Wednesday evening, at Crossroads, 2 Redwood Street, for a gold coin donation. Light lunch available, no charge, each weekday.

Work and Income New Zealand

WINZ can offer extra help with health, housing, emergency costs and, in special circumstances, advance payment of benefit. Those who depend on national superannuation may have other entitlements including:

• Living Alone Payment
• War Disablement Pension
• Veterans Pension
• Community Services Card
• Disability Allowance
• Special Needs Grant
• Temporary Additional Support, if you are in real hardship and have no other options.

Freephone 0800 552 002 7.00 am-6.00 pm Monday to Friday or Saturday mornings – or visit WINZ in Alfred Street for help or to pick up its brochure “Extra Financial Assistance”. The brochure is also available on the WINZ website www.workandincome.govt.nz

The Marlborough Family Budgeting Service may also be able to help you. They have trained people available to help you review your household budget. Ph: 03 578 2006 or visit 25 Alfred Street Blenheim, 10.00 am-3.00 pm. They can check you are receiving all your entitlements. There’s no charge and it takes less than an hour.