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The Canada Post strike is being felt by Edmonton charities, with several concerned about the impact on holiday donations at an important time of year for many people in need.
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Kevin Wiebe, donor relations manager at the Hope Mission, said due to the strike, they aren’t able to receive over half of their donations, which are sent via mail. He said the organization typically receives the majority of their donations in November and December.
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“Not being able to receive the majority of our support at this time of year is pretty significant and has a pretty significant impact on our community,” Wiebe said.
Donations often go toward programs like their emergency shelter, which becomes necessary as the weather gets colder — providing meals for vulnerable people and additional services including social work and mental health services.
On Nov. 15, more than 55,000 Canada Post workers began striking, with a key issue in bargaining being a push to expand parcel deliveries into the weekend, but the union and Canada Post are at odds on how to make it work.
The federal labour minister said Wednesday that there was no end in sight for the strike, with both sides too divided on key issues despite a mediator being appointed. Mediation was temporarily suspended.
Wiebe said the Hope Mission is currently accepting online donations to work around the strike, and people can drop off donations at their office at 7011 Girard Road.
“We’re grateful for the support of the public, but we’re also hoping that this can get wrapped up soon for the sake of the community we serve,” Wiebe said.
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At the Edmonton Food Bank, more than 200,000 festive paper brown bags used to collect and increase donation efforts are sitting at a Canada Post warehouse.
Tamisan Bencz-Knight, manager of strategic relationships and partnerships at the Edmonton Food Bank, said for the past 20 years, the organization has used brown bags to allow people to fill them with donations and drop them off at grocery stores or events.
“Everybody’s struggling,” Bencz-Knight said. “We have people that have never come to us before because of what’s happening with the economy.
“We definitely support the workers, but it’s also one of those trying times — like how do we keep ourselves going?”
Bencz-Knight said they will be meeting with senior management later this week to come up with an action plan. In the meantime, she encourages people looking to donate to go online or visit in person to drop off donations.
— with files from The Canadian Press
ctran@postmedia.com
@kccindytran
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