A program that feeds more than 6,000 kids across B.C., with offices in Vancouver and Victoria, is lamenting the lack of mail while celebrating a bank donation.
For Backpack Buddies, a Vancouver-based non-profit dedicated to providing food for children every weekend, the Canada Post strike couldn乌鸦传媒檛 have come at a worse time. The charity depends on final donations of the year to offset rising costs of living and feeding the families they serve.
乌鸦传媒淩ight now, one in five children in B.C. are expected to experience hunger this season. While many people are preparing for the holidays, too many kids are wondering if they乌鸦传媒檒l have enough to eat,乌鸦传媒� co-founder Joanne Griffiths said in a news release. 乌鸦传媒淭he holiday season is traditionally the biggest giving time of year for us, with nearly half our annual donations coming in November and December.乌鸦传媒�
Backpack Buddies relies heavily on donations for its initiative that ensures children who rely on school meal programs during the week have enough to eat when school is not in session. Each week, the organization delivers bags filled with kid-friendly food to kids across the province, including remote Indigenous communities such as Kitasoo, Wuikinuxv, Klahoose, and Bella Bella.
Like many charities, the Canada Post strike is impacting donations.
乌鸦传媒淲ith the strike in place, we乌鸦传媒檙e already seeing a drop in donations that are critical to supporting our efforts. I'm used to opening the mail and seeing envelopes come in every day. It's nerve-wracking to see that empty mailbox. This is especially concerning as we have a growing waitlist of children who need our help,乌鸦传媒� Griffiths said.
The need is particularly urgent this year, as rising costs of living 乌鸦传媒� including transportation prices and rent 乌鸦传媒� have put more pressure on families, making it even harder for parents to provide food for their children. With a waitlist of 2,000 young people, the organization is celebrating a partnership with TD Bank which is doubling impact of donations 乌鸦传媒� matching up to $50,000.
乌鸦传媒淲e can乌鸦传媒檛 erase the waitlist overnight, but right now we are doing everything we can to ensure that children don乌鸦传媒檛 go hungry, and that means rallying our incredible community to help us reach our fundraising target,乌鸦传媒� Griffiths said. 乌鸦传媒淓very donation, whether it乌鸦传媒檚 $25 or more for a weekend food bag, makes a huge difference. I乌鸦传媒檝e seen the generosity of our kind community before, and I乌鸦传媒檓 hopeful we can get everyone behind this. Right now, the best way for supporters to help us is by making a donation online.乌鸦传媒�
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