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But the calls for support won’t end at Christmas.
Social service agencies are bracing themselves for the January fall-out, with more people struggling financially as credit card bills for Christmas expenses roll in and tenants in arrears are evicted by landlords hesitant to act during the festive season.
The Reverend Bill Crews with Danielle Drader, who oversees the donations, at the Exodus Foundation. Credit:Janie Barrett
"If we are lucky and get too much stuff, it doesn’t last long," Mr Crews said.
"People forget [that] we have to get through January.
"Our numbers of those having meals at our foundation goes up in January as other places close down.
"If we closed down, people would climb over the wall," he said.
A "horrendous" Christmas
Dignity, an emergency accommodation service, will house up to 220 people this Christmas but will inevitably turn some away.
"We are doing everything to prepare," Dignity’s chief executive Suzanne Hopman said.
Ms Hopman expects this Christmas to be "horrendous" compared with previous ones because of the increase in homelessness.
A recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found almost 288,800 people sought help from specialist homelessness service agencies in 2017-18.
The report also revealed 236 people on average were turned away from a homelessness support service each day.
Needing a helping hand
A report conducted by The Salvation Army found that 6 million people felt obliged to spend more than they could afford.
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"There are expectations placed on parents today on what gifts they should get their children, which is stressful," Salvation Army spokesman Major Bruce Harmer said.
Christmas can also take an emotional toll on families, hinting at a wider issue about mental health, he said.
One in four Australians is experiencing anxiety and 3 million experience depression or social isolation, according to the Salvation Army report.
For many of these people, support from charities and organisations is invaluable.
Without The Salvation Army, Rachal Mills doesn't think she would be alive today. Five years ago the mother of three left an abusive relationship and was living on the streets when she "swallowed my pride and reached out [for help]".
"They [the Salvation Army] gave me hope and they showed me that there was something worth living for," she said.
Rachal Mills knows the difference a helping hand can make over Christmas. Credit:Janie Barrette
Even so, Christmas means additional financial hardship.
"The only way to give Christmas presents is to ask for help," she said.
For Ms Mills, the Christmas season is a time of joy, but is also a reminder of the hardships she and others face. She wants to share her story to give hope to others in a similar situation.
Ms Mills now works for The Salvation Army helping others by "being that person that I needed".
"People should be born not just to survive, they should be born to live," she said.
Back on the frontline
Charities such as Samaritans, Mission Australia, The Salvation Army, Foodbank NSW and the St Vincent de Paul Society said they were well equipped to deal with the demand for help. But to maximise their efforts, they welcomed further donations.
The high demand for Christmas hampers may leave charities begging for supplies. Credit:Janie Barrett
"This year we have not seen any diminishing support from the community’s donations," Samaritans chief executive Brad Webb said.
"If that happened, we would be overwhelmed."
But Mr Webb, like many others involved in the social service sector, is worried over the growing number of people reaching out for support.
"We have a political climate that tends to ostracise and disinvest in some of those who need it the most.
"That worry of where this is heading is constant," Mr Webb said.
Laura is a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald.