Make a difference this holiday season

During the holiday season, while you may be booking off time to rest and recharge with your family, Distress Centre remains open and available 24 hours a day to help Calgarians in distress. While we work tirelessly to ensure everyone has a place to turn in times of crisis, we too require support. Distress Centre could not run without the generosity of those who believe in what we do.

Donate to Distress Centre before year end to receive a tax receipt for 2022. But more importantly, you’ll be helping thousands of Calgarians who are struggling and need support this holiday season. If you want to keep it simple, donate online to our year end campaign. Increase your impact by becoming a monthly donor.

Here are five ideas for creative ways you can give to Distress Centre on Giving Tuesday and this holiday season.

1. Corporate giving and matching

Did you know that many corporations will match employee donations? Reach out to your place of employment and see if they’ll match your donation, thus doubling your impact! Corporations are often looking for worthy causes to support. Be an advocate for Distress Centre and encourage your company to make a donation.

2. Turn your holiday party into a fundraiser!

You can encourage friends, family, and even acquaintances to donate to Distress Centre by making fundraising part of your holiday party. Set a fundraising goal and ask guests to bring a donation to the party. To make things easier, you can create a fundraising page on Facebook or CanadaHelps and link it in your invitations. Other creative ways to turn your holiday party into a fundraiser could be to charge a “cover” at the party, host a holiday bake sale, have a silent auction with money going to DC or arrange information about Distress Centre along your table of refreshments. Adding fundraising to your holiday party can make your event feel more meaningful.

3. Donate stocks or securities

By donating securities, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds directly to us, as opposed to selling them and donating the proceeds, you can make a bigger impact and eliminate capital gains tax. This means more for the charity and a greater charitable tax credit and tax-efficient way for you. Donate here.

4. Donate gift cards or tickets as In-Kind Gifts

Finally, you can donate gift cards or event tickets to Distress Centre as In-Kind Gifts. We utilize our In-Kind Gifts to provide support to our fundraising and our Basic Need Fund, as well as to reward our hard-working volunteers. Please contact donate@distresscentre.com if you would like to make an In-Kind donation.

Did you know that you can also donate your Aeroplan points to Distress Centre? To contribute your Aeroplan points, complete the Aeroplan Pledge Form.

5. Donate bottles and cans from your holiday parties

Distress Centre is signed up with SkipTheDepot. This is a convenient way to both recycle and donate! SkipTheDepot collects your cans and bottles from your home, brings them to the depot, and then donates the returns to Distress Centre. This is an easy way to give to Distress Centre and take one of the many tasks off your to-do list this busy holiday season. Get started by filling out the registration form.

There are many ways to support Distress Centre. Choose from the list above or check out our donate page for more information on ways to give. You can also donate online to our year end campaign. Regardless of how you choose to support us, know that we are truly grateful for your generous support. Happy Holidays!