In light of current circumstances, Angela Riley notes a decline in charitable donations from the working and middle classes in Canada. As the founder of Scotian Shores, an organization dedicated to cleaning Nova Scotia shorelines, Riley mentions that maintaining consistent revenue is possible due to the organization’s art and crafts sales as part of its social enterprise.
Duke Chang, the president and CEO of CanadaHelps, a charity that aids other charities in donation processing, explains that the decrease in donations is not due to a lack of willingness to help but rather financial constraints faced by Canadians. Chang highlights a trend where wealthier donors are contributing larger sums, which helps offset the shortfall in revenue.
Riley attributes the decrease in donations to the ongoing housing crisis, citing exorbitant housing costs as a major obstacle for many individuals contemplating charitable giving. Meanwhile, Food Banks Canada reports that one in four Canadians faces food insecurity.
In Digby, N.S., Lynda Griggs witnesses the struggles of numerous individuals in her rural community. As the director of the Society for the Friends of Ferals, a charity supporting feral and stray cats in Digby, Griggs emphasizes the organization’s reliance on donations and small craft shows for funding. While the charity manages its daily expenses with current funding, it lacks sufficient resources to achieve larger objectives like building a shelter due to limited donations.
Griggs points out that people often find innovative ways to contribute, such as fishermen donating seafood for raffles and local businesses providing items for auctions. Chang echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that Canadians remain inherently generous and supportive of charitable causes.
Despite the challenges faced by charities, individuals and businesses continue to find creative ways to contribute and support causes they believe in, reflecting the generous spirit ingrained in Canadian society.
