With no mail-in donations due to Canada Post strike, Toronto food bank scrambling to raise funds

Natasha Bowes of the North York Harvest Food Bank says they need funds to keep coming in to provide food to more than 30,000 people.

With Canada Post workers on strike, charities that rely on mail-in donations this fall, including the North York Harvest Food Bank, are concerned they’ll not be able to raise funds.

Natasha Bowes, the director of development and marketing at the North York Harvest Food Bank, said the day their Fall Direct Mail appeal letters were supposed to be posted, Canada Post workers walked off the job, halting all deliveries.

She said they rely on the donations from their fundraising campaign to support their 30,000 clients.

“Canada Post direct mail is such a huge piece for all charities. It’s really a core fundraising piece. And no matter how much telemarketing we do or how much digital fundraising we do, direct mail really holds a lot of charities’ hearts and donors,” Bowes told CP24 on Friday.

Bowes noted that compared to other couriers, Canada Post is the only one that offers a low cost that food banks can afford.

“Unfortunately, the cost is just way outweighing the benefits. Right now, for us to mail something through UPS or camp or another organization, that’s just not helping us,” she said.

Bowes added that direct mail is also a great way for the food bank to send tax receipts and thank you cards.

“So even after the donation comes in, we still have to communicate with those donors, and a lot of them don’t have email addresses or are not comfortable giving online, especially with all the scams happening right now. That cheque donation is really the best way for them to get support to the food bank,” she said.

According to the food bank, it sees $3 million come in through the mail between September and December, so this is a crucial time for them.

Bowes said they’ve doubled down on social media campaigns and phone calls to attract potential donors.

“We need the donations to come in so that we can keep providing services to our community,” she said.

Bowes said those who want to make a donation can also visit the food bank on Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“I can give them a tour over the warehouse and show them how things are happening. So, we would love to see anybody from the community come out on that day to help support the food bank.”

The ongoing Canada Post workers’ strike, the third one this year, began on Sept. 25. It was in response to the federal government’s sweeping changes to the Crown corporation’s operations, including ending daily mail delivery and moving almost all Canadian households to community mailboxes.