The Salvation Army says holiday donations are down 50 per cent since the Canada Post strike began, amounting to a drop of roughly $9.3 million in seasonal giving compared to this time last year.
Mail-in gifts are “the bedrock” of the Army’s fundraising efforts, said spokesman Lt.-Col. John Murray, but its postal campaign has essentially ground to a halt during the labour dispute, which coincides with the busiest time of year for the charity.
Murray said 65 per cent of its annual fundraising occurs between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, roughly two-thirds of that by mail.
“This inability of our donors and supporters to make donations is going to potentially affect us in our delivery of service, not only during the holiday season, but in this coming year,” said Murray, whose organization supports food banks, shelter programs, emergency relief and other services across the country.
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At the same time, Murray said …