Holiday donations down 50% amid Canada Post strike: Salvation Army

The Salvation Army says holiday donations are down 50 per cent since the Canada Post strike began, amounting to a drop of roughly $9.3 million compared to this time last year.

The Salvation Army says holiday donations are down 50 per cent since the Canada Post strike began, amounting to a drop of roughly $9.3 million in seasonal giving compared to this time last year.

Mail-in gifts are “the bedrock” of the Army’s fundraising efforts, said spokesman Lt.-Col. John Murray, but its postal campaign has essentially ground to a halt during the labour dispute, which coincides with the busiest time of year for the charity.

Murray said 65 per cent of its annual fundraising occurs between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, roughly two-thirds of that by mail.

“This inability of our donors and supporters to make donations is going to potentially affect us in our delivery of service, not only during the holiday season, but in this coming year,” said Murray, whose organization supports food banks, shelter programs, emergency relief and other services across the country.

At the same time, Murray said online donations increased $100,000 in the last week compared to the same time last year, but he said that does little to cover the shortfall in mail donations.

People continue to give in-person by slipping cash into the Army’s distinctive red Christmas kettles, but as of Thursday, Murray said that campaign was down by a third, or $2 million, compared to the same time last year.

He attributed that drop to a shorter holiday period because U.S. Thanksgiving landed somewhat later in the calendar, as well as the economy.

“People are having to make tough choices, and there’s probably less money to go around to donate,” he said.