EDMONTON – As the holidays draw near, one of Edmonton’s longest serving non-profit organizations is still finding itself far from its fundraising goal.
For the past 71 years, the Christmas Bureau has been providing festive food hampers to our community’s less fortunate. Agency staff say, this holiday season, 70,000 people have asked for a helping hand. And in order to fund that high demand, the organization needs to raise $1.8M – a goal staff are hoping Edmontonians will make a reality.
“In terms of fundraising, the Christmas Bureau is only at 65 percent of our goal this year, so we have a long ways to go,” said executive director, Wendy Batty.
Batty added that people can continue to donate right through the Christmas holidays into January, which is when the organization’s grocery bill will need to be paid. For more information on where you can donate, click here.
Meanwhile, even though donations are low, the Christmas Bureau is continuing to help those in need. Along with other partner agencies like Santas Anonymous, the organization hosted a “Walk-in day” at Amiskwaciy School on Thursday, giving people an opportunity to access several services in one location in the final days before Christmas.
“This is the event that energizes all of us at the Christmas Bureau. You hear stories that without the help today, there’d be no toys for the children, there’d be no food for families…and how much the Christmas Bureau and supporting charities mean to the families,” said Batty. “It’s a chance for them to be included in the Christmas season, that they have dignity, and that opportunity to celebrate with everyone this Christmas season.”
The Walk-in Day will also run Friday at the school from 10 am until 2 pm.
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