N.S. charities hope to get a boost with federal tax donation deadline

Inside Souls Harbour Rescue Mission in Halifax on Wednesday, dozens of people took part in their annual New Years Eve dinner.

The organization’s CEO, Michelle Porter, says the need for their services has grown but they’ve been able to keep up with demand.

“We’ve got three mobile missions on the road now moving from encampment to encampment,” says Porter. “We’re opening new drop-in centres, we’re opening emergency winter shelters so we’re very thrilled for that support.”

Charities like Souls Harbour hope to fill in the gaps for those in need now that a decision by the federal government was made to extend the “tax donation deadline.”

Lori Barker, the CEO of Ronald McDonald House, says she was grateful and pleasantly surprised to hear about the extension.

“I think it will make a huge difference,” says Barker. “Think that there's going to be a lot more people giving. Especially with the news that they can do so.”

As charities work to overcome the impacts of the recent postal strike, they hope to remind people about how big the need is.

“The reality is the numbers coming to our food banks continue to grow,” says Lt. John Murray, the spokesperson of Salvation Army Canada. "We saw during the Christmas season, people not only coming for hampers and toys, but then asking for assistance in other ways as well."

Murray encourages people to donate and make an impact this holiday season.

"This is an excellent opportunity for Canadians to be able to pause as they move into this new year, to reflect on their charities and to make donations," says Barker.

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