By Lindsay Forcellini
Increased demand on charities in Ottawa has left many of them wondering how they’re going to make it through the holiday season.
“We’re trying to find out why there is such an increased demand,” says Peter Tilley, executive director of the Ottawa Food Bank. “And we know it’s not just Ottawa.”
A food drive held during Thanksgiving weekend brought in over five times the amount normally generated by food drives, but with more than eight tons of food given out each day, the food bank is struggling to keep up.
“The community is generous – the bins are overflowing but that food will all be gone in two weeks,” Tilley says. “And the demand is only going to increase during the Christmas season.”
The food bank is not the only charity feeling anxious about the upcoming holidays and scarcity of supplies.
Marilyn Matheson, executive director of the Christmas Exchange program in Ottawa, says they also expect fundraising to be tough this year. The Exchange provides food hampers or vouchers for people who are referred by churches or other local groups.
“There aren’t as many donations this year, mainly because of lay-offs. People who have been donors in the past now need our help,” Matheson said.
The Exchange helped 8,000 families, or more than 25,000 people last year, a number Matheson says has reached its peak.
“We can only help that many people. We’ve never had a situation where we’ve had to turn people away, but if we don’t have the financial backing from the community, we might be in a situation where we have to.”
Ottawa Innercity Ministries, an interdenominational Christian volunteer organization that helps the homeless, is also feeling the pressure.
They too rely on volunteers and donations from individuals and churches, but executive director Rev. Ken MacLaren says everyone is digging deeper into their pockets and resources are exhausted.
The Salvation Army is facing a shortfall in Ottawa says Michel Tassé, divisional secretary of public relations. The Salvation Army is already short of last year’s total at this time, and they are predicting a tough holiday season for this year and next.
“We fundraise for the next year, and it’s not looking too rosy with a $150,000 shortfall only six months into the fiscal year,” Tassé says.
“We’ll likely come out with $1.35 million instead of our goal of $1.8 million, which is quite a drawback – it’s going from bad to worse.”
Charities are working to generate more donations as the holiday season approaches. Tilley says the Food Bank is putting a push on food drives, which will take place in Loeb and Loblaws grocery stores on the first Saturday of November and December, respectively. Matheson says the Exchange is focusing on increasing publicity and awareness.
The Salvation Army will be extending its kettle campaign for cash donations to include the week after Christmas until New Year’s.
Charities know providing adequate food, shelter and warm clothing to people in need this holiday season will be hard.
“It’s going to be tough,” says Tilley.
“But one dollar given to us goes along way,” Tassé says. “We stretch it.”