How to Help Hungry Kids and Families This Christmas

Look, Christmas is a pretty pricey time of year.

Whether you celebrate it or not, there's no denying that the Christmas period—which includes New Year's Eve and coincides Down Under with the start of school holidays and, of course, summer—puts a strain on your wallet.

In fact, here's some real-time footage of you, right now, dealing with this very fact:

But if you're struggling, just think of those in Australia who are doing it tough all year round. As we wrote during Anti-Poverty Week (that's in October), more than one in eight Australians (13.2 per cent) live below the poverty line in Australia. When you only count children under the age of 15, that number drops to one in six.

Overall, more than four million Australians experienced "food insecurity" in the past year, and 22 per cent of those were children.

Think of that as you're opening your Xmas presents, or enjoying a mighty big feast with your family.

Look, we don't say it so you'll feel guilty! In fact, you shouldn't feel pressured to overspend at this time of year.

Rather, there is an easy and affordable way for you to contribute and help improve the lives of the less fortunate this Christmas. Yes, even on a student budget.

You can make cash or food donations to Foodbank Australia, who provide relief to more than 710,000 Australians every month (26 per cent of whom are under the age of 19).

To specifically assist those in your state, you can even follow their links and donate directly.

• A donation of $40 to Foodbank NSW & ACT will provide a struggling family with a food hamper to eat on Christmas Day.
• In Victoria, a donation of $25 allows Foodbank to provide a hamper of healthy pantry essentials to feed a family for a week.
• Foodbank WA can provide 10 children with a meal with just a $5 donation from their 'Hungry Puffs' campaign.
• Queenslanders are being asked to pledge $20 or greater to keep kids from going hungry this Chrissy.
• Foodbank SA reminds us that a $25 donation can provide $200 worth of food.
• The Northern Territory branch is seeking sponsors for their schools program, where $10 can provide 100 children with a bowl of milk and cereal in the morning.
• And Tasmania is desperately in need of support, saying "demand is outweighing supply".

Of course, you can donate way more if you feel so inclined. You could even start a food drive yourself. We don't want to brag or anything, because it's definitely not a competition and every little bit helps, but...

Header Image: iStock.com/nikkytok