Demand for services of charities grew in 2009

Andrea Klassen Medicine Hat News

As Canadians struggled with the worst economic slump in recent memory, local charities were in high demand both from those in need and those willing to help.

The Medicine Hat and District Food Bank provided emergency food to almost 60,000 people in 2009 - up 16.5 percent from 2008. The Santa Claus Fund and the Medicine Hat United Way also saw demand increase, as locals struggled with unemployment and other financial troubles.

“There was a lot of families who had never come to apply before for a hamper,” says Santa Claus Fund executive director Darlene Ford. “And obviously this year they were forced to."

But, she adds, as demand increased so did community support. Ford says she was surprised to see donations in 2009 surpass those received in 2008.

"People who still could give gave a lot,” she says. “They dug a little deeper into their pockets and were able to provide a little more for us... Even the gifts we received this year were much better quality."

While the United Way ran about $100,000 short of its fundraising goal in 2009, executive director Holly Stadnicki reported an increase in donations from small businesses and banks, as well as an increased interest in volunteering for fundraisers like the charity’s annual gift-wrapping booth.

“People were phoning and they wanted to come and give a couple hours, whatever we had," she says. "I think where people might not be in a position to give financially, they're certainly giving of their time."

Funds decreased, she says, in payroll contributions made at the office. Over one third of the United Way’s funding comes from the campaign, where employees donate a small portion of each paycheque, with employers matching contributions.

With many larger companies laying off employees, Stadnicki says it wasn’t surprising to see those donations shrink.

For the Food Bank, increased demand has lead to new methods of fundraising, says executive director Connie Matson. In 2009, the Food Bank began encouraging people to donate cash rather than traditional canned goods. Because the organization works with other groups and businesses across Alberta, Matson says a $1 donation purchases about $5 of food.

"Because our buying power is so much stronger, we've been able to sustain the volumes that we've had," she explains.

The Food Bank is also seeing new, innovative support from the community. Offices have donated the funds that would normally go to their Christmas parties, Matson says, and many local children are requesting charitable donations in lieu of birthday presents.

"It's little things like that that really add up over the year,” she adds. “And that's what got us through, is people coming up with ideas."

For local charities, it seems the recession may have one positive, if unexpected consequence.

“When times are tough, I think people realise there are a lot of families out there that go without,” says Ford.

"I think everybody knows somebody who was laid off,” adds Stadnicki. “It’s close to us all."

NEWS FILE PHOTO EMMA BENNETT Denise Earl, left, and Inez Lomow, right, volunteer their time to help wrap gifts at the Santa Claus Fund warehouse this past season. Charities and organizations across the city have seen an upswing in volunteer hours and new faces.

REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA 2010 ■ Celebrating our Community — 47

NEWS FILE PHOTO IAN SORENSEN Joanne Davies looks for donations for the Salvation Army's kettle drive at the Medicine Hat Mall. Two days before Christmas, counts showed the Salvation Army’s Christmas appeal was at 71 per cent of their fundraising goal, according to Maj. James Hagglund.

NEWS FILE PHOTO EMMA BENNETT Even the smallest of volunteers came together to make the 2009 Christmas season a lot brighter for recepients of the Medicine Hat News Santa Fund. Santa's helpers Timora and Lochlan Hardiker, Charlatan Sandford, Brandon Lehoux, and Austin Porochnavy, arrived at the Fund's office to help pack the hampers of toys and books. The Fund and its many volunteers delivered over 450 hampers to needy families on Dec. 19, 2009.

Volunteers give and receive

at resource centre

Andrea Klassen Medicine Hat News

For an increasing number of volunteers, giving back has a new, tangible reward.

Kim McClymont, executive director of Medicine Hat’s Volunteer Resource and Community Information Centre, says she’s seeing more demand for positions that will give volunteers experience with computers, word-processing, and other technical skills they need to stay competitive in the job market.

Many of these volunteers are over 50, she says, and aren’t as “savvy with all the technology” as younger workers. By volunteering, they’re not only contributing to their community, but adding lines to their resumes.

The centre, which helps about 450 local charities, service groups and community organizations connect with volunteers, isn’t the only organization reporting an increase in volunteer interest.

Both the Santa Claus Fund and the United Way say they saw a number of new faces at their fundraising events in 2009.

Darlene Ford, Santa Claus Fund executive director, says she thinks the recent economic downturn has made more people aware of those in need in their community.

"When times are tough, I think people realize there are a lot of families out there that go without.” she says.

Ed Stiles, volunteer coordinator for January’s Olympic Torch Run celebrations, also saw plenty of new volunteers sign up to staff the weekend event.

"I think parents are trying to get their kids involved,” he explains, “so there was a variety of youth involved."

Stiles, says it doesn’t seem to be difficult to get Hatters to come out and pitch in, even on short notice.

"The community size lends itself to people wanting to be a part of it,” he says. “They want our small community to be city-like, so they're willing to put in a bit of effort to make bigger things happen."

McClymont estimates at least 8,000 Hatters regularly volunteer, putting the city well ahead of other similar-sized communities.

“Medicine Hat has a real good heart when it comes to building community," she adds.

NEWS FILE PHOTO IAN SORENSEN Richelle Oerlemans wraps a gift at the United Way gift wrapping services booth in the Medicine Hat Mall. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120