As the clock ticks down to the holiday season, Laura Jensen is more anxious than festive. The executive director of Ottawa’s Community Cupboard, which provides emergency food assistance to over 400 families monthly, watches her donation box with growing concern.
“December donations typically carry us through the lean months,” Jensen explains, sorting through the handful of cheques that arrived this week. “But with mail disruptions, we’re seeing maybe 30% of what we’d normally receive by now.”
The ongoing Canada Post labour dispute has created an unexpected casualty – Canadian charities dependent on mailed donations are reporting significant drops in contributions just as their busiest fundraising season begins.
Canada Post workers have been engaged in rotating strikes since October 29th, following failed negotiations between the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). While mail continues to move, delivery delays of up to three weeks have been reported in some regions, creating a perfect storm for charitable organizations.
CanadaHelps, which processes online donations for thousands of charities, reports a 22% increase in digital giving since the postal disruptions began – but smaller organizations without robust online infrastructure are struggling to bridge the gap.
“Many of our donors are older Canadians who prefer writing cheques,” says Martin Blackwell, development coordinator at Victoria’s Seniors Support Network. “We’ve tried calling regulars to suggest e-transfers, but it’s not easy to shift decades of giving habits overnight.”
The timing couldn’t be worse. According to Statistics Canada, approximately 40% of annual charitable giving occurs in the final six weeks of the year, with direct mail campaigns generating nearly $1.8 billion for Canadian charities annually.
The disruption has forced innovation. The Salvation Army, which relies heavily on its Christmas kettle campaign, has added tap donation options at many locations. Meanwhile, smaller organizations are scrambling to implement digital solutions and phone campaigns.
Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan expressed concern about the impact on vulnerable Canadians. “While we respect the collective bargaining process, we recognize these disruptions affect essential services many Canadians depend upon,” O’Regan stated at a press conference yesterday.
For the Canadian Cancer Society, which receives approximately 60% of donations through mail, the stakes are particularly high. “Research funding decisions are made based on projected income,” explains Dr. Natalie Wong, research director. “Delays in receiving donations could potentially impact grant approvals for critical research projects.”
Both Canada Post and CUPW representatives acknowledged the unintended consequences for charities in separate statements. Canada Post spokesperson James Chen noted, “We’re processing charitable donations as priority items where they’re clearly marked as such.”
CUPW president Jan Simpson emphasized workers’ commitment to communities they serve. “Our members are deeply concerned about impacts on charitable giving. Many donate themselves and volunteer with these same organizations.”
Some charities have found creative workarounds. The Greater Toronto Food Bank launched a “Skip the Mail” campaign highlighting alternative giving methods, while Winnipeg’s Children’s Hospital Foundation partnered with credit unions to accept in-branch donations.
Financial planner Priya Sharma recommends donors consider setting up automatic monthly contributions. “Beyond avoiding mail disruptions, monthly giving provides charities with predictable income they can budget around,” Sharma suggests.
Digital security expert Michael Nguyen cautions donors to verify charity websites before giving online. “Unfortunately, we typically see an increase in charity scams during postal disruptions. Ensure you’re on the legitimate organization’s website by typing the URL directly rather than clicking email links.”
Ironically, the postal disruption may accelerate charitable giving’s digital transformation. CanadaHelps reports first-time online donors increased 34% since the strike began – potentially creating new sustainable giving patterns.
For Jensen at the Community Cupboard, adaptation means embracing both old and new approaches. Volunteers now conduct phone campaigns to longtime supporters, while others help seniors navigate e-transfer options. Local businesses have offered to collect donations, creating an informal community postal system.
“The silver lining is we’re connecting more personally with donors,” Jensen reflects. “But I worry about smaller charities in rural communities without these resources.”
As negotiations continue between Canada Post and CUPW, charities face difficult decisions about program funding for the coming year. Many have already postponed expansion plans or reduced service hours.
The Community Cupboard normally distributes holiday hampers to 600 families. This year, they’ve budgeted for 450. “We hope mail service resumes soon,” Jensen says, “but we can’t make promises to families based on donations that might be sitting in a processing facility.”
For Canadians wanting to support charities during the disruption, experts recommend checking organization websites for alternative giving methods or contacting them directly about their preferred donation channels.
Meanwhile, charity directors like Jensen remain cautiously optimistic. “Canadians are incredibly generous – once they understand the need, they find a way to help. We just need to make sure they know we’re still here, still serving the community, mail or no mail.”
