GivingTuesday campaign aims to help Edmonton charities hit yearly target

Kids Kottage and Holiday Hamper are some of the Edmonton-area charities relying on Giving Tuesday as organizations continue to face tough economic realities.

Charity organizations in Edmonton are counting on the generosity of others on a day dedicated to helping those in need.

GivingTuesday is a global movement that occurs on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday in an effort to help those less fortunate.

Some organizations in the city rely on the massive influx of donations to keep their doors open.

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Chris Curtola, a founding board member for the Holiday Hamper Foundation, spoke with CTV News Edmonton on the importance of giving.

“This year, we’re really far behind in our donations. As a volunteer organization, every year, it’s always a challenge for us to find sponsors, find companies that want to make a donation,” Curtola said, adding they are nearly $100,000 behind their $150,000 for the year.

“This is where the majority of our fundraising goes towards. Everybody that does a delivery with us, they’re going to get that turkey or fish when they come to deliver their hamper on December 20,” she said.

Every year the Holiday Hamper Foundation delivers 2,000 hampers to families in need. Curtola stated missing their target hurts their efforts for next year’s campaign.

“Each year we try to grow the program, but it’s really based on the donations … and we just push as hard as we can these last couple of weeks before Christmas,” Curtola said.

“We still have 20 days to go before our delivery day, but today is really a big day for us.”

The annual donation campaign also helps charities including the Kids Kottage Foundation in providing care and shelter for children whose families are facing a crisis.

“When we don’t raise enough money, it means that less people get help, and less children are cared for, and more families are at risk. So our donations mean everything to us,” said Ashley Brosda, the executive director of Kids Kottage Foundation.

According to Brosda, every year the organization needs more than $1 million to help 600-plus kids up to 10 years old. Those children and their families could be experiencing homelessness, family violence, or medical emergencies.

“We fundraise for about half of our operating budget so they literally keep our doors open. They keep food on the table for children, they keep our play rooms well-stocked with different toys and activities, and they keep everybody safe,” she added.

Donations made to the Holiday Hamper Foundation on GivingTuesday will be matched by the Junior Chamber of Edmonton for up to $10,000, while the Kids Kottage Foundation will receive $5,000 donations from Pembina Pipeline and an anonymous donor.

Donations can be made to the Holiday Hamper Foundation and the Kids Kottage Foundation on their respective websites.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Miriam Valdes-Carletti