The Salvation Army says it's in a "perfect storm" as it tries to keep up with growing demand for food parcels, all while grappling with the cost of living too.
On Monday, The Salvation Army launched its winter appeal as the cost of living crisis cripples Kiwis and it has seen demand triple in the last year.
The Salvation Army's assistant territorial secretary for mission Lieutenant Colonel Lynette Hutson said the organisation itself is struggling too.
"Ballooning food and grocery prices and increasing costs associated with its other community-based social service including supported accommodation, financial mentoring and counselling."
Lt Hutson told AM Kiwis are not able to make their dollar "go as far as it needs to go".
"We see people who are absolutely struggling even to feed themselves."
Lt Hutson said The Salvation Army is seeing the demand for food parcels grow "all the time" and believes it hasn't even peaked yet.
"I can give you an example of one of our food banks, which previously had done five food parcels a day, now needing to do 20 a day. So that's an enormous strain on our resources."
Lt Huston said a $30 donation last year would have supported the purchase of a small food parcel. But today it would contribute to less than one-third of the same parcel.
The cost last year climbed from $30 to $100 this year.
"It's just the incremental increase across everything we provide, that means we can't provide as many food parcels as we believe we are going to need," Lt Hutson told AM.
"Similarly, a medium food parcel that cost $60 last year is now $160, while a large food parcel has risen from $90 last year to $220 today."
Lt Hutson said The Salvation Army is "almost at capacity" which is why its winter appeal is so important.
"We really are asking the public for the level of support just to be able to help us do what's needed."
She said it "feels like we are in a perfect storm" with costs rising alongside the need in the community.
"Our mission is to help vulnerable people, supported in our work by generous donors. In the current difficult economic environment, all we can do is ask those who are able, give what support they can."
Donations can be made on The Salvation Army's website.
Watch the video above for more.
