Charities in Ottawa say demand for their services is growing, but they’re receiving fewer donations than in years past. The Caring and Sharing Exchange is issuing an urgent appeal for donations one week before Christmas Eve, with over 2,000 families still on the waiting list for support from the charity. Almost 11,000 families in Ottawa have requested assistance through the Christmas Exchange program this holiday season. “In the same manner that it is a difficult time for families, everyone is witnessing the impact of inflation and the higher cost of living,” Caring and Sharing Exchange’s VP of the Board of Directors Lily Grudzien told CTV News. The Caring and Sharing Exchange provides either a redeemable gift voucher or a food hamper to families ahead of Christmas each year. “We are facing an unprecedented situation,” Megan O’Meara, Board President of the Caring and Sharing Exchange, said in a statement. “With only nine days until Christmas, more than 2,000 households in Ottawa are still waiting to hear if we can provide them with support. We are urgently calling on our community to help by donating online to ensure we can continue providing support to those who need it most.” The Caring and Sharing Exchange says financial donations are the “most flexible and urgently needed form of support.” The organization is also looking for individuals, families, workplaces and community groups to participate in its Sponsor-a-Hamper program, which sees sponsors purchase and assemble food hampers. “We will try and make ends meet for the families that are in the waiting list,” said Grudzien. “It’s just a matter of how much we’ll be able to receive in donations between now and then.” To donate to Sharing is Caring, visit www.caringandsharing.ca. A struggle for all The familiar ring of a Salvation Army bell can be heard at store entrances across the city, but this year, the charity says donations have fallen behind, even as more families ask for help. At a Barrhaven Walmart, volunteer Micheal Tipman says he’s still seeing generosity and he’s grateful for every donation. “People are really generous,” Tipman said. “It’s wonderful to see.” For Tipman, volunteering is personal, rooted in a story passed down by his mother. “My mother told me when she was quite young there was only her and her sister,” he said. “Her father had passed away, and she said that without the Salvation Army she would have starved to death as a young girl.” With bells in hand, it’s the reason he volunteers. It’s his third year with the Salvation Army’s Kettlebell Campaign, but this year generosity is facing new pressure. “The spirit of generosity is taking on a different look this year with so many Canadians struggling with making ends meet,” said Glenn van Gulik, Salvation Army spokesperson. The Salvation Army says donations are about 25 per cent lower this time last year, even as demand for help continues to rise, and they’re not alone. A new study by the Fraser Institute shows charitable donations in 2023 hit a 20-year low. At Walmart, Tipman says he’ll keep showing up, even as charities brace for a tougher fundraising season. With just 55 per cent of the Salvation Army’s $325,000 goal reached so far in Ottawa, Tipman says the reason he volunteers is simple: “It’s just a wonderful place to be,” he said. This Saturday is Fill a Kettle Day at Walmart, with the company matching donations up to $100,000.
