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Charities make final appeal

Charities are making final appeals from Central Albertans after seeing a drop in donations through the holiday season.

Charities are making final appeals from Central Albertans after seeing a drop in donations through the holiday season.

A number of organizations — including the United Way of Central Alberta and the Alberta Lung Association — witnessed a decline of donations for their year-end campaigns.

As of Dec. 24, the United Way has reached $1.72 million in donations — or 86 per cent of its campaign goal of $2 million.

Jennifer Forrest, resource development director, said her hope is that people will want to give back to the community now that Christmas is over.

And she noted it’s a worthy endeavor.

“You can still make a donation this week and receive a tax credit,” Forrest said.

The Alberta government provides one of the best tax credits in the country.

For instance, if someone was to donate $1,000, they would receive a tax credit of $450, so that donation only costs $550 in the end.

The Alberta Lung Association’s Christmas Seals campaign in Red Deer is so far, much lower than last year’s tally.

As of last Thursday, donations totalled $11,811 compared with last year’s amount of $20,786.

Spokeswoman Deb Steele urged people to donate by Friday’s deadline because the organization is “drastically short” of its provincewide goal of $900,000.

People can still donate online at www.ab.lung.ca or by mail at The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT, P.O. Box 4500, Station South, Edmonton, AB, T6E 6K2.

The Christmas Seals campaign provides dollars towards research of various diseases like asthma and lung cancer. Donations also support programs and services for those with lung disease and to help children choose a smoke-free lifestyle.

The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign ran from Friday Nov. 19 to Thursday Dec. 23.

Final results were unavailable on Monday.

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com