CENTRE WELLINGTON – Local charities are feeling the effects of the recently paused Canada Post strike and are scrambling to adjust.
The strike, which began Nov. 15 and saw 55,000 postal workers walk off the job, was officially “put on pause” following an announcement on Dec. 13 by federal labour minister Steven MacKinnon.
Both parties appeared before the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) last weekend and postal services were to return on Dec. 17.
However, local charities have already felt the sting of the strike, with crucial holiday fundraising greatly affected.
“This is the time of year where most charities receive most of their donations for the entire year from the holiday mailing,” said Lori Arsenault, executive director of the Groves Hospital Foundation.
“So we, because of this strike, we were not able to send out our holiday mailing this year.”
Arsenault told the Advertiser she supports the union’s right to strike, but wants to remind people that charities are still in need of donations.
“We usually send our … holiday mailing mid-November … right around the time that the strike happened, so it hasn’t gone out,” said Arsenault.
The hospital foundation typically sends out around 5,000 letters as part of its holiday letter campaign.
“Last year, our holiday mail made close to $400,000,” said Arsenault.
“So that’s, you know, $400,000 that we will not raise unless people are more, I guess, proactive and come in and donate and not wait to receive that holiday appeal.”
The hospital foundation isn’t the only charity facing challenges.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington (BBBS)has also faced its fair share of challenges.
“Our biggest thing, I would say is with planning for events … we outsource auction items and that kind of thing, so any items that require a specific application process, some of those include that you have to send an actual mailed letter,” said BBBS interim executive director Ashley Winterburn.
“So, in doing that, obviously, in our planning and trying to send that with appropriate timing is kind of out the window, because these things can’t get to the places that they need to go to, and if that’s the only way to submit an application, and there’s no other sources or ability to do anything else.”
Winterburn told the Advertiser most BBBS funding is completed through in-person donations, however the charity typically sends thank-you letters following donations, a task which has since required more manpower than usual as staff has been hand delivering the letters.
“I’d say more so the like, aftermath of whatever campaigns and stuff we do has been more affected, which, again, is more challenging for us,” said Winterburn.
“If we do send any thank- yous, especially at this time of year, we tend to have to now hand deliver them. Not saying that that’s not a good thing, but … we are quite a small team, so that can be a bit challenging.”
Both Arsenault and Winterburn told the Advertiser the best thing to do is to bring any donations directly to the foundation or to donate electronically.
Anyone interested in making a donation to the Groves Hospital Foundation can visit grovesfoundation.com or make a donation by phone at 519-843-2010, extension 47701 or in-person at 131 Frederick Campbell Street Fergus.
A full list of equipment and items being fundraised for can be found on their website. Office hours are 9am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday.
To donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington, visit centrewellington.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca or visit them in person at 900 Tower St. S. in Fergus.
“I just want to remind people that even if they don’t get the letter in the mail,” said Arsenault.
“They can still reach out to the charity of their choice to give a donation.”
