Do more with less.
That's the byword at social agencies around the globe as shaky economic times lead to more people in need of help - and fewer people able to pitch in.
For the Burnaby Christmas Bureau - which helps provide toys and food for families in need through donations from the community - the last few years have led to significant financial pressures and a big hit to the organization's reserves.
"We're not in a debt situation," executive director Stephen D'Souza told the NOW. "It's a deficit - we built up a reserve, we knew hard times do come, and now we've had to use it."
Over the course of a decade, the organization built up a reserve of about $100,000 - by the end of last year's campaign, they had needed to use up nearly $50,000 of it.
"That's half of our reserve," said D'Souza. "So this year, we really can't be in that position ... we are completely focused on doing everything we can towards making sure we have a zero deficit this year."
The goal for this year's campaign - above and beyond the toys that get donated - is $190,000 in total cash donations. So far, they're at about $25,000.
"That's roughly where we would expect to be," he said.
But, they're already seeing a lot of families coming to register since doors opened on Nov. 1.
"There's been a lot of people registering, getting in early," he said.
The deadline for registration has always been Dec. 1 but in the past there had been some flexibility on that in unique cases.
"But last year, we had to cut it right off at Dec. 1 - we had already exceeded our capacity by then," he said.
D'Souza says the last few years, with uncertainty in the global economy, have affected their organization in two ways - first, with a decrease in donations, and second, with a spike in families needing help.
"In 2008, the first year of the recession, there was no real increase in clients, but there was a real decrease in donations," he said, noting that their loyal donors still contributed, but simply weren't able to contribute as much as past years.
"Those small decreases, that's totally understandable - people were still committed to the program, they wanted to continue but they just couldn't do as much," he said.
But, he said, it all added up to a decrease in their expected totals.
Though donations leveled out over the following two years, there was then a follow-up spike in the number of people coming to them for help.
"(In 2009 and 2010) we had a big increase in the number of people registering ," he said.
In all, they've had a 33 per cent increase in clients.
D'Souza says it's too early to know how this year's campaign will go, but said "there are signals that things could be getting worse."
He says they're not expecting to be able to re-supply their financial reserves, but the goal is to meet their donation goals and avoid having to dip into reserves again to carry off the campaign.
And while the rough economy has been challenging, he notes that it has led to some new donors coming forward.
"We have seen some non-traditional groups coming forward, people who hadn't donated in the past who have seen the impact (of the economy) and thinking 'Maybe this is the time I need to give back,'" he said.
"We've had some smaller businesses who depend on the community, and now they're seeing it's a good time to help out those community members," he said.
D'Souza is also quick to point out that potential donors should not be intimidated by the question of "how much is enough".
"The Burnaby Christmas Bureau is almost entirely run by small donations, it's people going out and buying one or two toys, and coming by with $5 or $10 - we see people come in with a few dollars to drop off, and it really adds up."
The bureau, he says, is about helping families in the city, but it's also about the bigger picture of building and creating community.
"It's part of the fabric of the city, it requires everyone to give a little bit, to make it a better place," he said.
How to help the bureau
As families begin to register with the bureau, organizers say now is the time to think about getting involved to help the bureau this year. There are a number of ways to get involved:
- Financial donations: donate online at the bureau's website at http://burnabycommunityconnections.com; send a cheque to 204-2101 Holdom Ave., Burnaby, B.C., V5B 0A4; donate by credit card by phone at 604-299-5778; drop off a cash or cheque donation at the bureau's new temporary location at Metropolis at Metrotown, on the upper level near Winners, in Unit E8.
- Participate in the Angel Wall program: this program is a toy drive program held by schools, community groups or local businesses. The bureau provides decorative angel themed cards with the gender and age of a child written on each one, as well as posters that can be used to encourage participation. Individual participants then choose an angel, purchase a toy for the appropriate age and gender and bring the gift back to the organization for drop-off at the bureau's toy room.
- Sponsor a family: the Burnaby Christmas Bureau matches families with a group that provide them with a food hamper and gifts. These groups can include companies, religious groups, school groups, families, or individuals. The sponsor has direct contact with the family.
