Alberta’s economic downturn has been tough on local charities who are experiencing a drop in donations.
It not only means charities are losing money, but also the community is losing important services.
The Covenant Foundation is one of the charities struggling to meet its donations goal this year. The foundation supports covenant facilities in the Edmonton area, particularly the Grey Nuns Hospital, Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre and the Misericordia Hospital.
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The Covenant Foundation’s primary fundraiser is the Caritas Dream Life Lottery. The deadline to purchase tickets is Oct. 20, but the foundation is only two-thirds on the way to its goal.
“We’re hoping to issue a final appeal for Edmontonians to come out and support a cause that so many of them are familiar with,” volunteer Corey Smith said.
“We’ve been able to corrolate the success of the lottery almost exclusively to the economy, and we’re definitely feeling the sluggish economy affecting our sales. We started seeing it last year and it’s certainly a factor this year.”
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Besides the economy, Smith believes local charities are struggling to meet donation goals because all the donations that Albertans directed earlier this year for those impacted by the wildfires in Fort McMurray.
The money raised by the Convenant Foundation this year will go towards enhancing the Misericordia neonatal intensive care unit.
“As we have done at the Grey Nuns, we’re now trying to expand those facilities at the Misericordia and that’s just a cause that’s familiar to so many Edmontonians,” Smith said.
The foundation has made a $4.2-million commitment to support the hospital.
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