Inflation, cost of living impacting donations to Vancouver charities
Posted December 12, 2022 8:15 pm.
Last Updated December 13, 2022 6:12 am.
It’s a sign the holidays are here: the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign. But this year, the number of donations coming in is a sign of how many people are struggling financially.
Sheldon Feener with the Salvation Army B.C. Division says donations for the “vitally important” campaign are down this year. He says the fundraiser has brought in $300,000 less than it did at this point last year.
“It’s a bit of a concern for us. We’d like to see that number obviously go up and we’d like to see people make their donations and fill that kettle so that we can provide hope and help to the people that come to our doors.”
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The organization, CanadaHelps, aims to make giving as easy as possible this holiday season.
According to an Ipsos poll done for the charity last month, 20 per cent of Canadians surveyed have scaled back their giving this year, with 74 per cent of those blaming it on the rising cost of living.
Nicole Danesi with CanadaHelps says this comes at a time when many charities are seeing a rise in demand.
“There are some charities that are still seeing fundraising dollars come through, but I would say overall, there has been a very overlying trend in terms of flatlining in donations,” she said.
“Unfortunately, for some organizations, it may essentially mean that they will have to turn individuals away and those are individuals who need help and support so it is quite concerning.”
Mission Possible in Vancouver, which helps people find meaningful work, says it’s seen a 100 per cent increase in demand since the pandemic.
Executive director of the group, Matthew Smedley, says while it’s too soon to know if there’s been a dip in donations during the holidays, he admits it’s a concern. “The need for donations far outpaces what’s coming in.”
“We rely on donations to run our programs and if those start to decline then we really run the risk of not being able to provide services for those who need them,” he said. “It’s really important for folks who can, to continue to give to make sure the support is there for those who need it.”
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As holiday campaigns continue for the next couple of weeks, Feener is hopeful donations will pick up.
“We live in the most generous province in Canada so I believe that British Columbians will come through and help us provide the hope to people that need it the most.”
