Local charities feel squeeze amid inflation, pandemic pressure

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This article was published 13/12/2022 (1044 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fewer volunteers, declining donations and increased needs face some charities focused on helping vulnerable Winnipeggers this Christmas season.

For the Salvation Army, which depends on its annual year-end Kettle Campaign to raise funds for programs in the province, donations to date are only one-third of the $385,000 it is aiming for with more than over a week to go until Christmas Day.

While hopeful the organization will meet its goal, Al Hoeft, who directs public relations for the Salvation Army in Manitoba, said recent inflation pressures may be behind the shortfall.

“People have less disposable income,” he said, adding a shortage of volunteers to staff the kettles is also behind the drop. “For two years of the (COVID-19) pandemic, people weren’t involved. It’s hard to get volunteers back.”

At the same time, since many such volunteers are older, some don’t feel safe going into stores and malls with the kettles while so many viruses are circulating. “This has reduced the number of locations we can be at,” Hoeft said, noting people can still give online.

Meantime, “the needs are growing,” said Salvation Army divisional communications manager Blair Malazdrewich.

There are a lot more people living paycheque-to-paycheque, and there are more people facing “crippling debt.”

“The only way they can keep the bills at bay is by coming for food,” he said. “Lots of people are having trouble making ends meet.”

Money raised by the Salvation Army in Winnipeg stays in Winnipeg, Malazdrewich said.

“It stays at home and goes into the hands of local people,” he said, noting it is used to provide food, shelter, warm clothing and programs that offer various kinds of support.

At Siloam Mission in downtown Winnipeg, the story is similar.

“Christmas is the biggest giving time of the year,” said Luke Thiessen, who manages communications for the shelter. About one-third of the $8.5 million it fundraises each year arrives in December.

But donations are slower this year, with a drop in the number of donors.

“I think people’s ability to give is affected by the (looming) recession,” Thiessen said.

At the same time, Siloam, like other charities, is also impacted by rising prices.

“We have to add 10 per cent to everything we need to buy,” Thiessen said. “All our costs are going up.”

Volunteers are also harder to find, with many people still reluctant to be out in public, while some who volunteered before COVID-19 have grown older and aged-out of volunteering or their volunteering habits have changed, he said.

While grateful for those who are volunteering, “there is definitely a need for more,” Thiessen added.

In addition to donating to provide meals for those who utilize Siloam’s services, another way people can help is by donating $50 for a backpack filled with personal hygiene items, warm mitts, food and other items.

The backpacks are given to those who are at the shelter on Christmas Eve, Thiessen said, along with those in longer-term housing. About 230 backpacks are needed.

“That’s one thing many people don’t think of,” Thiessen said of those who spend Christmas at the shelter. “It’s a hard picture to deal with.”

To the southwest, at Agape Table, “We’re in the same boat,” said general manager Dave Feniuk. “There’s never enough money at the end of each month.”

While donations are down, needs are way up — to an estimated 133,000 to 135,000 people served this year from 85,000 a year before the pandemic.

“That’s just the meals we serve at Agape Table,” he said. “It doesn’t count the food we provide to other organizations.

“Now, it’s not just the marginalized who come. We are seeing people displaced by floods and fires from northern reserves, newcomers and the working poor.”

Inflation pressure also means Agape Table has to pay more for paper bags, cups, utensils and other items when it provides meals.

“Hunger doesn’t take a break,” Feniuk said. “Christmas is a critical time for us to get the support we need. We are hoping the generosity of Winnipeggers once again really comes through.”

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