Interfaith Food Bank’s annual Christmas campaign is aiming to raise $425,000 this year, but the majority of financial donations come in by mail. However, due to strike action taken by Canada Post, mail-in support may be delayed.
“We always want to be respectful of Remembrance Day, so we don’t send out our Christmas newsletter until after Nov. 11,” says Executive Director Danielle McIntyre.
Volunteers are ready to stuff and seal 3,500 envelopes, in hopes of recruiting the financial support vital to Interfaith’s operation.
Food Banks across the country have been struggling all year with keeping up with increased cries for help from community members, notes McIntyre. “We’re now crying too, as the cost of keeping up with the demand has created enormous strain on our already tight resources. The Christmas campaign is our largest fundraiser that determines the support we’ll be able to provide to the community in 2025.”
“Barriers to our ability to recruit financial support is yet another blow to our efforts to support local families struggling with food security, but we are committed to ensuring we’re able to help every family that comes to us for emergency food assistance this Christmas,” adds McIntyre.
According to McIntyre, it’s never too late to give. “We do have alternate forms of giving. You can donate online or stop into the food bank.”
In-person donations can be made Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Alternatively, a secure mailbox is available outside of operating hours.
Interfaith, McIntyre explains, hopes to capitalize on the season of giving between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year. “The Christmas campaign is highly centred on our Christmas newsletter. It gets the donor envelopes right into the hands of people to fill with cash and send back to us.”
“With the postal strike, if things are delayed, it will definitely affect our cash flow. We encourage people to donate online or to give as quickly as they do when they finally receive that newsletter,” says McIntyre.
McIntyre says if Interfaith has community support, the food bank will be able to make sure every family coming for help this Christmas goes out the door with supplies for a special Christmas meal.
