Overnight lows approaching -40 C over the weekend left many of us with frozen cars and sidewalks, feeling a perpetual chill that was difficult to shake. Uncomfortable as it was, imagine the agony of a night spent without shelter, without heat and perhaps even without food. Organizations that can help these people and others in need, would — if they had the money to do so.
It is no secret that most Canadians — Albertans especially — are planning to spend less on presents, ornaments and other odds and ends this Christmas. A Dec. 2 RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook survey of 1,018 Canadians found 51 per cent of Albertans were planning hefty cuts to the Christmas budget, compared to 47 per cent nationally. That has retailers worried about selling enough toys to make their own ends meet.
But Canadians and Albertans also appear less inclined to open their wallets or donate their time to organizations that help the needy, even as the number of individuals looking for help continues to swell. Food bank use in Alberta has climbed 61 per cent in the last year as the recession made life even for more difficult for many. In March 2009 alone, nationwide, Canada’s food banks helped 120,000 more individuals than in the same month the previous year. More families are signing up for referrals from agencies such as the Salvation Army and charitable Christmas groups such as the Kinettes, who are packaging up hampers of food and gifts for local families, are seeing a rise in numbers.
Unfortunately for groups like the Salvation Army, Albertans are not responding as they used to. Province-wide, Albertans gave less to charity last year than in the preceding four years, donating $1.38 billion, a drop of 0.4 per cent. Giving nationwide was down a total 5.3 per cent at $8.19 billion, the lowest number since 2005. Charities are struggling to offer traditional services, never mind expanding programs due to the increasing number of people needing them. Sadly, closed wallets will mean a lean year for many organizations.
Even St. Albert residents appear less likely to give in the face of increased need. The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle campaign has reached the halfway mark and is already short $5,000 compared to last year’s total. There is less money in the pots, not just because residents are giving less but because there are fewer pots to go around — the agency needs to fill 240 shifts between now and its Dec. 24 wrap-up. In a city renowned for its spirit of volunteerism, we appear to even be stingy with our time. Meanwhile, the Salvation Army is referring two to three clients a day to the St. Albert Food Bank, compared to pre-recession numbers of two to three clients per week.
Some businesses have switched gears in a surprising fashion, opting against giving gifts to clients in favour of making donations to local charities or groups within the Capital region. But in times of need, when Canadians close their wallets, individuals who need help suffer most. The spirit of the season, whether religious or secular, apparently only travels so far.
So many of us already have everything we need. Our homes are filled to excess and our children’s rooms with toys. Deciding to spend less on gifts might be fiscally necessary, but why not simply give that gift money to charity? More so, why not give an hour or two to ring a bell, deliver gifts or help out where it’s needed? Why not fill your soul instead of simply filling a bunch of oversized socks?
There are only nine days left until Christmas, but there is still time to make a difference. Giving is charitable, but giving something up, whether a gift or an hour of your time, truly embodies the sentiment of the season.
