UDPATE: The postal strike and lockout had a significant impact on Siloam Mission — we lost approximately $80,000 in donations — but we’re optimistic that donations will resume to help us meet budget. We want to thank everyone who took the time to donate at participating credit unions, online or in person. You carried us through!
SILOAM SETS UP CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR DONORS DURING POSTAL STRIKE
Manitoba Credit Unions ensure contributions keep programs running smoothly at slowest time of year for donations
WINNIPEG, MB (June 6, 2011) – Faced with a postal strike at the slowest time of the year for donations, Siloam Mission is partnering with the Credit Union Central of Manitoba and Manitoba credit unions to ensure donors can keep contributing without having to worry their donations are lost in the mail.
Siloam Mission is 85% privately funded, with 90% of all donations arriving in the mail.
The downtown homeless shelter is in the middle of a mail campaign called “Summer of Hope,” which secures Siloam’s funding for June, July and August. The campaign keeps all programs and services running smoothly.
“In summer our donations drop drastically,” says Floyd Perras, executive director of Siloam Mission.
“We often don’t think of the homeless at this time of year because it’s warm outside and people go on holidays, but unfortunately homelessness does not take a holiday.”
Within hours of the announced postal worker strike last week, Credit Union Central of Manitoba and credit unions set up a system to accept donations on behalf of Siloam Mission. It took effect on Monday, June 6.
Donors can drop off cheques made out to Siloam Mission in addressed and sealed envelopes at the following participating credit unions:
* Access Credit Union
* Amaranth Credit Union
* Assiniboine Credit Union
* Belgian-Alliance Credit Union
* Beautiful Plains Credit Union
* Cambrian Credit Union
* Casera Credit Union
* Community Credit Union
* Crocus Credit Union
* Crosstown Civic Credit Union
* Dauphin Plains Credit Union
* Entegra Credit Union
* Erickson Credit Union
* Ethelbert Credit Union
* Flin Flon Credit Union
* Grandview Credit Union
* La Salle Credit Union
* Me-Dian Credit Union
* Niverville Credit Union
* Noventis Credit Union
* Oak Bank Credit Union
* Portage Credit Union
* Prairie Mountain Credit Union
* Roblin Credit Union
* Rorketon Credit Union
* Rosenort Credit Union
* Sanford Credit Union
* Starbuck Credit Union
* Steinbach Credit Union
* Strathclair Credit Union
* Sunrise Credit Union
* Swan Valley Credit Union
* Vanguard Credit Union
* Westoba Credit Union
* Winnipeg Police Credit Union
For the duration of the strike, credit unions will forward the mail to Credit Union Central of Manitoba, which will then deliver it to Siloam on a daily basis.
Donations of any kind – including cash – can also be dropped off at Siloam Mission on 300 Princess St. from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Donation tax receipts will be mailed out as soon as the strike is over.
“At this point we’re just so grateful that the Credit Union Central of Manitoba has come to our aide in helping us collect donations and sustain our revenue,” says Perras.
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For more information, please contact:
Mike Duerksen, Communications Coordinator
Office: 204.956.4344 ext.238
Cell: 204.228.6429
mike.duerksen@siloam.ca
