It is a 鈥渟taggering statistic,鈥 said Nicole Danesi. A recent Ipsos Poll conducted for 91原创Helps found that 20 per cent of Canadians are currently using charitable services to meet essential needs, like food and shelter.
鈥淚f you think of 10 people that you know, and everyone knows at least 10 people in their lives, that is two people who are actively seeking that support,鈥 said the senior manager of public relations with 91原创Helps, the country’s largest platform for donating and fundraising online.
鈥淭hat could be someone at your local religious institution, at your school, at your workplace. It is a really significant challenge right now,鈥 she said.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Released just before Giving Tuesday, which takes place today, the poll found that the rising cost of living is behind 69 per cent of respondents鈥 need to access those charitable services.聽
鈥淭hat was really astonishing, and I think it speaks to the wider issue that individuals who聽 are going to charities for essential services are not going because they don鈥檛 have employment, for example,鈥 said Danesi. 鈥淢any of these individuals are people who have jobs, are juggling multiple jobs, and they still just can鈥檛 seem to make ends meet.鈥
While the need to access services has increased, the poll found that those Canadians who did not give to charity in 2022, also do not plan to give this year, and of those who did, 19 per cent plan to give less in 2023. Danesi said this is part of larger 30-year trend that has seen the number of people donating decrease.
鈥淧eople are still giving, don鈥檛 get me wrong, but the major gap that people need to keep in mind is that the demand is rising so rapidly that charities are feeling that demand on the front lines every single day, especially those more essential services like food and shelter. The demand is not in pace with giving for the most part,鈥 said Danesi.
鈥淲e know that so many Canadians are struggling right now, and it is really challenging. But there are many individuals that have financially been pretty secure over the last few years. We are hoping that those Canadians are aware, or have become aware, of the challenges that their neighbours, their friends, their co-workers are facing, and that those individuals are able to give to causes that they care about.鈥
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
And, she said, that financial donation does not need to be a lot of money 鈥 even $5. 鈥淎nyone can give in any capacity, and it may feel like your $5 is not making a dent, but when you add it all up, it makes a significant increase.鈥
Danesi said if giving money is not possible, there are other ways you can be charitable this Giving Tuesday and the rest of the year. 鈥淚t is volunteering, it is talking to your children, it is doing an act of kindness.鈥
Volunteer you time
Danesi said a lot of Canadians would probably be surprised to know how important volunteering is for charities. She said, a vast majority of them are actually volunteer run. When 91原创Helps recently surveyed charities about the number of volunteers they have now compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, 55 per cent reported they had fewer today.
鈥淭here are different reasons for that. Sometimes it is a matter of older Canadians who were volunteering before the pandemic leaving for health reasons and then not returning. We are also still in a very virtual world, even though it is more hybrid at this point.鈥
She said many of the skills and talents we have in our daily jobs, like being an accountant or working in marketing could be useful to charities.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Donate items
Consider donating items you are no longer using. This could be gently used clothing that can have a life beyond hanging in your closet, books that are collecting dust on your shelves or even used furniture.
鈥淢any people take for granted being able to walk into a store and being able to buy whatever they want for their home and making it a comfortable space,鈥 Danesi said. 鈥淔or many individuals who just secured a place for them or their family to live, furniture is often the last thing individuals are able to afford.鈥
She said there are groups that will help people to furnish their homes, so they have a level of comfort and dignity 鈥 like making sure you have a table, chairs and plates so your family has a place to eat its meals.. 鈥淚t is not a luxury,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t is about having that dignity in your everyday live.鈥
Danesi said people can also consider donating their blood, their hair, their glasses or food items. Even your old bike, which can provide increased mobility and enjoyment to a child or an adult, can be donated.
鈥淚f anyone is able to give, it is really important,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hat is the meaning behind Giving Tuesday. It is a variety of actions. A variety of ways to give, in whatever capacity individuals are able, to support the charities that they care about.鈥
DISCLAIMER: This content was funded but not approved by the advertiser.
