Canadians are generous with more than 88 percent saying they already donate money to charity and 78 percent saying they would likely donate some if they received an unexpected windfall, according to a recent survey by Leger Marketing for H&R Block Canada.
In addition, the majority of Canadians (63% percent) also think they should be able to claim non-money donations on their tax returns. This would include donations of personal property and volunteer hours.
Here’s a thought – rather than giving your loved-ones yet another gizmo or gadget that they neither want nor need, why not consider supporting a charity in their name? Let them know how special they are to you by helping someone else out and providing them with a gift card.
This is the wording found on the gift cards I purchased this Christmas to send along with my Christmas letters. It reads: “A special thank you to a special person. As a way of saying thanks for all you do, in your honour, a dinner has been purchased and will be served to a Homeless person in our community this holiday season. Thank you for making a difference in my life.”
I know I would be touched to receive such a card. I think your family and friends would be moved as well. There are a lot of charitable organizations that offer these cards in exchange for donations. I would encourage you to seek out these opportunities. You can do two things at once: Support a charity of your choice and give a meaningful gift to those you love.
Let’s help our community this Christmas.