The Salvation Army in Queenstown is appealing for more public donations of non-perishable food and cash to stock its foodbank.
Corps leader Kenneth Walker said the charity was experiencing a "strong, steady flow" of residents and newcomers seeking food and advice to survive.
Mr Walker said staff were assisting residents who lived close to the breadline all year, unemployed residents who might not be immediately eligible for state benefit, and employed residents faced with reduced hours.
Rent was most residents' largest expense, but unlike income and employment, it did not change with the seasons, Mr Walker said.
The Salvation Army assisted 56 Queenstown people in May and June.
Of those, 20 were New Zealand citizens, and another was a New Zealand resident. While the status of 27 people was not recorded due to differences in data entry, the remaining eight people asking for support were on worker or visitor visas.
Of the 29 people recorded, 23% said they did not have an income, 37% did have an income, 5% did not say and the remaining 35% received benefits.
