Canadians want gifts that give back
One third of Canadians plan to scale back their holiday spending, according to a new Canada Helps poll.
The poll also found nearly half of the people asked said they’d prefer a gift that makes a difference, such as a charitable donation.
Nicole Danesi is a public relations manager with Unite for Change. She said the poll shows that Canadians are very aware of the challenges other community members are facing.
“Two in ten Canadians so about 22 per cent are expecting to rely on essential charitable services in the next six months,” said Danesi.
“This is something like food and shelter for example and that stat was actually at 14-percent in January so it’s increased.”
Danesi said that Canadian gift giving practices have changed since last year.
"Among that group of Canadians that expecting to crawl back their giving, parents were much more likely to reduce their holiday spending versus families without children," she added.
This year the Sudbury branch of the Salvation Army plans to hand out over 900 Christmas hampers and hopes to raise over $200,000 through the Kettle campaign.
"People are dropping off toys, gift cards for toys as a way to help ensure that kids have a nice Christmas because we have a lot and we keep accumulating more and more now is a good change to give back," said the army's area director Jeffrey Robertson.
The CTV Lions Children’s Christmas Telethon is another regional charity campaign, which has been running for 74 years, aims to put smiles on family’s faces on Christmas morning.
Telethon Chair Sam Khoury said people all over the region and beyond always come through for local families in need.
"When we go around and they know this is for the telethon everybody try’s to give a hand and to help the telethon to assist those families and the kids because you have to put a smile on the face of those kids at Christmas time," said Khoury.
According to Canada Helps, Tuesday November 29th is labeled Giving Tuesday. The aim is to highlight creative ways to give the community through the holiday season by encouraging donations to your favourite cause.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.