West Island Community Shares struggles to reach financial goals

POINTE-CLAIRE – Sophie Dalbec runs Amcal family services in Pointe-Claire, a community organization that helps families and kids in need.

The group counts on the yearly funding from West Island Community Shares (WICS) to compensate up to eight per cent of its annual budget.

“It’s huge, the great advantage of support we receive is that it is recurrent and we know we can count it and it doesn’t have conditions,” said Dalbec.

This year though, they are preparing to make some tough decisions.

WICS is coming short in their funding campaign and that means they may have less money to give out to their community groups.

“If we lose a percentage of that, then choices have to be made. Maybe we’ll cut there or maybe we’ll have to let go one of our family workers,” Dalbec said.

Executive Dirtector Caroline Tison said that tight economic times are making it a tough year for charities.

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“It’s tough out there, you have to be more creative and innovative to even maintain your revenue levels, so for sure some people have to cut by half what they gave last year,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's tough out there, you have to be more creative and innovative to even maintain your revenue levels, so for sure some people have to cut by half what they gave last year," she said.

West Island Community Shares funds 40 different organisations, like the teen program at the YMCA in Pointe-Claire.

Most organisations work on shoestring budgets, so the smallest cut has a major impact.

“Let’s say it gets cut $3,000, it may not seem a lot,” said Dina Souleiman who runs the YMCA program.

“But in the scheme of things, that’s one night of programming for youth, so what happens to them that night they can’t come?”

Wednesday night, with $100,000 left to raise in less than two days, Tison decided to make an unprecedented move and make a last hour plea to potential donors on YouTube.

“I need your help today so our fellow West Islanders going through tough times can find the help they need,” she pleaded on the homemade video.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I need your help today so our fellow West Islanders going through tough times can find the help they need," she pleaded on the homemade video.

So far, it’s worked.

More than $20,000 came in within hours of the YouTube video being posted, plus a generous matching offer from an anonymous donor.

With just hours to go, the group is gunning for the finish line, and with a little help from social media, they might just make it.

Tison said every little bit helps and donations can be made on their website.