This is the time of the year that many St. Albertans dig into their pockets to stuff cash in the Salvation Army kettles, or donate food and toys to the local Kinette Fill-A-Bus effort.
The holidays are often a make or break time for small charities with many charities depending on Christmas campaigns for one-third or more of their total budget. Many who depend on the charities are in even greater need this year.
This year the Kinettes’ Fill-A-Bus drive fell short, bringing in only 6,000 pounds of food (compared to 8,000 pounds last year). Frigid weather on Saturday, the day of the drive; and high unemployment are being blamed for the fewer donations.
Higher unemployment means many people who were once in the rank of the givers, now need assistance themselves. While federal government pipeline approvals have given hope of more jobs, those jobs have not yet materialized.
“Dollars are tight and people are trying to make them stretch as much as possible,” Sarah Patrick said, marketing and customer service co-ordinator for the City of St. Albert. “Although people are trying to contribute in any way that they can, they are not able to contribute as much as they have in previous years.”
Charities like the Kinettes are depending on all of us to help them out.
You might be surprised to learn that it is not always the wealthy people who shell out the most cash. Statistics Canada reports that many of those who donated more than $1,000 a year earn less than $45,000 a year. And the most charitable group of people is those people who are over 65 years old.
Charitable giving helps the receiver, the giver and the community as a whole. For the recipients the donations put food on the table, presents under the Christmas tree and take away the stress of deciding which bills to pay this month.
Donors get the warm fuzzy feeling of helping out someone in need. Statistics Canada reports that the top reason people donate is compassion for others (91 per cent) and the second reason was to support causes they believe in (88 per cent). Only 23 per cent who donate do so for tax reasons.
But the community benefits as well. The teamwork necessary to create a fundraiser helps strengthen the safety net in a community. By giving you are supporting that community. Statistics Canada reports that 82 per cent who donate do so to support their community.
If you have not had the time to meet the deadline for the food, or toy donations it’s not too late. The Kinettes are accepting donations for their Christmas hampers until Dec. 18 at the King of Kings Lutheran Church in St. Albert. Other agencies need your cash donations all year round. While food and toys are always appreciated, the agencies can get more from your cash donations. They can get better deals by buying in bulk, and they can use the cash to buy the most critical items, rather than wait for them to trickle in the door.
Giving helps the needy, allows us to expand our sense of compassion and contributes to the social safety net. These are important reasons to give as generously as you can.
