With mail service grinding once again to a halt, The Mustard Seed in Kamloops is calling on its supporters to find alternative ways to help their cause — helping those in need.
Around one-quarter of the donations The Mustard Seed receives comes through regular mail.
“People getting a mailed-out piece from us and then responding by putting a check in the mail and sending it back,” said Philip Calvert, Chief Development Officer. “So that’s a significant thing for us over the course of a year, and so we would really hope that it gets resolved as soon as possible, because it does put downward pressure on what we’re able to provide, because the donations that we get in directly affect what we’re able to do.”
Calvert contends that if donations dry up, their ability to help those on the streets will also start to be diminished.
“There are certain services that we do that are almost entirely dependent on donations,” noted Calvert. “One that’s a top of mind right now because of Mental Health Awareness Month is our health and wellness teams.”
Key Information for Donors and the Public:
• Mail delays may impact traditional donation methods.
• Online and phone donations remain the fastest and most secure options.
• Support from the community remains essential as we continue to provide critical services including meals, shelter, health support, and outreach across Alberta and beyond.
Alternative Donation Options:
• Online: TheSeed.ca/donate
• Phone: 1.833.GIV.HOPE (448.4673), Monday–Friday, 8AM–4PM
“The mustard seed is enormously grateful for the community of donors that do surround the work that we do in Kamloops, as well as the other six cities that we’re in,” said Calvert. “We’re just consistently shocked in a way of how much people respond to the need of their community and choose to do that through us.”
“I’d like to say thank you and make sure that people know how grateful we are for them, especially in times like this, when it comes to disruption to mail service, that does represent a significant downward pressure in our revenue,” he added.
