The Santa’s Anonymous campaign could face challenges in coming years if more money doesn’t start pouring in, said Westlock Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) outreach coordinator Jacquie Tomkins.
This year, the Sharing of the Gift of Trees fundraiser — the largest for Santa’s Anonymous — brought in just $3,460, which is down even further from last year.
The campaign brought in $3,700 last year and had to dip into reserve funding for roughly $5,000 to ensure food and gifts were provided to community families in need.
“We have a little bit in reserves left. But I would think we’ll definitely be using them this year,” she said. “Future Santa’s Anonymous’ will be possibly in jeopardy.”
The Sharing of the Gift of Trees fundraiser was held Saturday, Nov. 19 and marks the main fundraising event for Santa’s Anonymous.
Prior to the event being held, it was in jeopardy of being cancelled due to low ticket sales — something the organization hadn’t faced in the past since it was a free event. The day prior to the event, only 23 tickets had been purchased.
Despite this number, roughly 75 people showed up at the Westlock Legion to bid on the nine trees and 80 silent auction items.
“We didn’t make as much on the trees as we normally do, but we had a lot of silent auction items this year so that might have compensated a little bit,” she said.
The silent auction items ranged from plants to jewelry to toys and even a live Beta fish.
With only $3,460 coming in at this year’s event, Tomkins said it is much lower than she had expected.
This decrease in donations could have something to do with charity apathy, where people feel they have donated enough and either don’t want to, or can’t afford to give any more.
After the Slave Lake fire forced evacuees to the Westlock area for support, many area residents donated time and money, with many feeling they have nothing more to give.
“People are tapped out,” she said. “You only have so many dollars that you can use for donating and once their done, they’re done.’
Santa’s Anonymous is still accepting donations, either through the coin cans and toy drop-off boxes at area businesses, or by signing up to adopt a family.
Tomkins said the cost of adopting a family is roughly $25 per person for food, with roughly $50 per child for gifts and between $10 and $15 for each adult.
“They would be able to choose if they’re doing food only or gifts only or food and gifts and then they would choose how large a family,” she said.
To learn more or to sign up with adopt-a-family, call the FCSS office at 780-349-5900.
