Edmonton charities are receiving a significant holiday season boost thanks to matched donation campaigns timed for Giving Tuesday. Utility company EPCOR is doubling contributions for two major local organizations, amplifying community generosity when need is at its peak.
Matched Funds Multiply Community Impact
For this year's Giving Tuesday, EPCOR is matching donations up to $25,000 each for the Bissell Centre and Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS). This initiative means every dollar donated by the public is effectively turned into two, stretching the power of individual contributions.
Michelle Reid, Manager of Community Engagement at the Bissell Centre, confirmed the campaign's early success. The charity has already secured $57,500 in matched funds this year. "It's exciting to stretch that generosity a bit more," Reid said, noting the critical timing. She emphasized that extra winter funding is vital for providing housing assistance and warm clothing for children in families struggling with poverty.
Growing Need Meets Evolving Services
The matched funds arrive as Edmonton charities report increasing demand for their services. Data from Homeward Trust in October illustrates the challenge: while 191 people were connected to housing, 241 new individuals were reported as needing help. Alarmingly, children and youth aged 0-24 now represent a combined one-quarter of all people documented as homeless in the city.
Corey Mowles, President and CEO of YESS, stated that around 60 per cent of the non-profit's annual donations typically arrive during this season. He has witnessed needs rise consistently, which has forced the organization to expand its services beyond shelter. YESS now also offers life skills programs like budgeting and cooking classes, alongside mental health and addiction supports.
"Not everyone's individual time is the same anymore," Mowles explained. "We're really having to spend that time to figure, OK, 'What does this person specifically need to help them get on the path they want to be on?'"
A Critical Time for Community Support
The momentum of matched giving isn't limited to Giving Tuesday. Boyle Street Community Services recently concluded a November matching campaign that netted $57,000. However, Kassidy Green, Manager of Development with Boyle Street, noted that despite a wide array of services, non-profits are being outpaced by a rapidly growing need.
For charities like the Bissell Centre, YESS, and Boyle Street, the holiday donation surge is not just seasonal fundraising—it's a crucial infusion of resources that supports their work through the harsh winter months and beyond. The EPCOR matching campaign provides a powerful incentive for Edmontonians to contribute, ensuring their generosity has twice the immediate impact on vulnerable community members.
