Getting ready for giving
A graduate of the University of Toronto, Trevor Hutchinson is a songwriter, writer and bookkeeper. He serves as Contributing Editor at The Lindsay Advocate. He lives with his fiancee and their five kids in Lindsay.
It’s about to be that time when we will be increasingly asked to help support any one of the many local charities and good causes.
While most charities are small, together they add up to a significant portion of our social safety net. Nationally, charities deliver more than $240 billion of services a year. More than 40 per cent of that total comes from provincial and territorial governments which means that charities are not just some extra service, they are sometimes the conduit for government funding. In effect, charities are part of our social contract: how we choose to help and support each other. But to execute their missions, charities must compete for our attention and dollars.
And they must do this in a volatile environment: declining participation by Canadians; fewer donors (due in part to economic uncertainty); changing government priorities; and in most cases, increased demand for services. The Canada Helps 2025 Giving Report outlines some interesting major trends in the charitable sector: charities with strong digital infrastructure are doing well; there is a need to grow donor bases; monthly giving and special events like Giving Tuesday are growing and Canadians are increasingly donating to charities and causes in their community.
As the Giving Report summarizes, “the future of giving might be local.” This trend might be good news for many local charities. And with the creation of the Kawartha Lakes Community Foundation, we can give locally in more ways.
The majority of charitable giving happens in November and December, but October is certainly a busy month for good causes locally. On Oct. 2 alone the RMH foundation has a Thankful Hearts Walkathon, Five Counties Children’s Centre has their “Couture for Kids” event and the biggest charity in the area, the United Way HKL, has their annual Campaign Launch Oct. 2. The CIBC sponsored Run for the Cure happens Oct. 5 and A Place Called Home has a 30th anniversary event in recognition of World Homeless Day on the 10th. Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot, in support of Women’s Resources (literally) runs the 11th and the Royal Canadian Legion will begin its annual poppy campaign later in the month leading up to Remembrance Day. All of these are on top of the constant need for donations to organizations like Kawartha Lakes Food Source and the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes, to name just a couple.
So whatever our motivation, be it personal or family experience, a cause you like to support, or if you just want to pay it forward, we are coming upon the giving season. Your gifts, be they big or small, are very much needed. If I overlooked an event in October, I apologize. Make sure to contact our sister publication Kawartha Lakes Weekly.
And to all who are able to give or work or volunteer, thank you. You make our community a better place to live.
