For many children, the excitement over Ottawa’s first big snowfall of the year was incomparable.
But for some young people, the cold emphasizes the harder times their families may be experiencing.
That’s where the Snowsuit Fund of Ottawa comes in.
“Our need is great this time of year,” said fund-raising co-ordinator Margaret Armour.
“We fully anticipate giving over 15,000 new snowsuits this year … it’s pretty cold today.
“Our challenge is that the need never goes away.”
The Snowsuit Fund is one of a growing number of local charities registered to receive online donations through CanadaHelps.org, which allows donors to search a database of 85,000 Canadian charities and make a donation online.
With so many charities out there, donations are harder to get, said CanadaHelps.org CEO Owen
Charters.
Statistics Canada said from November 2007 to November 2009, giving dropped from 28 to 23 per cent, he said. “Canadians are giving less and less each year.”
Online giving makes things easier for everyone, said Charters.
It’s easier for people to find a charity that means something to them, and gives small and medium-sized charities a cost-efficient way of bringing in donations, he added.
