'Mothers are going hungry so their kids can eat'

Door of Hope chaplain Jo Kemp, who runs an emergency food relief program, said it was not unusual to receive up to six calls a day from families who are unable to afford food.

"I am hearing more and more of mums going without food to make sure their kids are eating," Ms Kemp.

"It is really distressing."

Tasmanian researchers found almost half of all households in Tasmania are experiencing food insecurity, which can include worrying about having enough money for food, choosing 2-minute noodles instead of healthier options, to eating fewer food groups, or eating less.

Bigger charities such as Salvation Army and City Mission have long been aware of a rise in the need for relief, but smaller support services are also being kept busy by community need.

Shekinah House service co-ordinator Louise Cowan said the high cost of groceries was leading to hunger risk in the community.

She said it was not just people without jobs seeking help, but also the employed and underemployed.

"Now we are seeing individuals on an income, and families with incomes, more than ever before," she said.

"We have a lot of people without full-time employment, who are in seasonal work or casual employment, who don't have the security of income."

Ms Cowan said compounding stressors, such as minimal income, rising costs, depleted or no savings and unexpected bills, were adding up in an increasing number of peoples' lives.

She had seen, for example, family budgets blowing out due to car repairs, childrens' medical needs prioritised over food, and people with no money due to a business winding up which in turn caused application issues with Centrelink.

"People find it really difficult to walk in the door to ask for help, particularly when they have an income and they don't think we will understand why they aren't managing," Ms Cowan said.

"But we know that people are struggling, and that asking for help is really hard. It is big thing for them to put their foot in that door and say 'I am struggling'. So we try and do what we can."

Ms Cowan said Shekinah House was just holding its own to keep up with the demand, but donations were always welcome.

"The best way of people donating to us would be financial assistance, because then we have the flexibility of being able to help people to best meet their needs. We want to be able to look at each situation on its merit, and see if it is something out of the ordinary that we can help with," she said.

This includes buying food that meets dietary requirements, medications, bus fares or giving money for bills.

"But we also wouldn't turn away any food assistance that people give."