“The prospect of running out of money in retirement can be terrifying, and the depth of despair in some people surprised me.” Professor McCallum from lobby group National Seniors said.

Researchers warned Australia’s poverty rate was worse than most wealthy countries, including New Zealand, Germany and Ireland.

In Australia, the poverty line was $457 per week for a single adult, increasing housing costs were pushing people into poverty

“This is about food…the basics of life that people are now going without,” Dr Cassandra Goldie CEO of Australian Council of Social Service.

Only 3 per cent of Australians are planning to provide for the costs of aged care as they grow older.

Professor John McCallum said life expectancy for those aged 65 had increased by around six years since the 1980s. “That means Australians must now do something their parents and grandparents didn’t think about – plan for longer life,” he said.

Perhaps most concerning of all, around 70 per cent of people have no savings by the time they reach extreme old age and go into base level care, where homes cost about 87 per cent of their pension payments.

“We’re not only a networking group who meet for social and business purposes, but we support people in the community with educational, emotional and humanitarian projects. We are the universal voice of love, faith, hope and inspiration connecting people to their hopes, their hearts and their possibilities. Especially when people are older, frail and vulnerable.”

This year One Light Foundation collaborated with Global Spirited Women Australia Inc. Together we are planning to donate 100 gift hampers, serving 2 people each and will hand them out at the Christmas Angels Tea Party on the 7th of December. The cost is $140 for one hamper.

Food Hamper Products

We accept not only cash but also Qoin and Bartercard trade dollars, crypto and products (see list) which could be delivered to One Light Charity Foundation, level one, 121 Scarborough Street, Southport.