The program has been around for more than a century but this year it’s facing one of its toughest battles to date.
The Christmas Seals campaign delivers decorative stamps for your holiday cards as an enticement to pledge your financial support. This year’s initiative is within weeks of completion but currently finds itself about $500,000 short of its $900,000 goal.
This has organizers with the Lung Association of Alberta and the Northwest Territories worried. The organization is dedicated to fighting lung disease through funding research programs and services to assist people with various conditions such as lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Donations also go to fund programs and services in communities across Alberta for those with lung disease and to help children choose a smoke-free lifestyle.
“As a non-profit organization relying heavily on donations to fund support and advocacy services, we face the very real possibility of having to close some of our programs … leaving requests unfulfilled and people without the vital support they need,” said Leigh Allard, vice-president of development.
Because of the anticipated shortfall, the association has started to cut back some administrative services. It has already switched over to an automated calling system as a way of reducing overhead costs.
Last year citizens in the metropolitan Edmonton area donated more than $225,000 to the annual campaign, with $20,000 of that coming from St. Albert. Deb Steele, director of communications, hopes people can dig deeper into their pockets to make sure programs can keep running smoothly for the sake of many Albertans. She said the organization fills a critical role in advocating for people’s health.
“The Christmas Seals is basically our main campaign of the year. It’s what drives the Lung Association. The donations that people make to the Lung Association go directly to support programs for people. If you have anything from a lung condition that you’re looking for support with to asking questions about how to deal with something, we have people at the other end of the line who can either help you or refer you somewhere. We rely on the generosity of people at Christmas.”
To donate or to learn more abut Christmas Seals and the Lung Association, please call 1-888-566-LUNG (5864) or visit www.ab.lung.ca. Digital Christmas Seals, including e-cards, are also available on the website.
