The annual House of Friendship Turkey Drive, organized by the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club, has faced significant challenges this year due to an ongoing Canada Post strike. Typically reliant on mailed donation requests, the campaign’s efforts to provide holiday food vouchers and turkeys for 4,600 families have been disrupted, prompting an urgent call for community support.
“We’ve got 4,700 letters that are undelivered at this point. We can’t wait for the strike to end,” said Brian Hunter, one of the campaign organizers. With donations by mail accounting for an average of $150,000 annually, the delay threatened the success of the fundraiser. Determined to overcome the setback, the Rotary Club mobilized around 70 volunteers to help distribute the letters directly, with hopes of increasing that number to 100.
Volunteers have taken on various tasks, from sorting letters to delivering them door-to-door. Among the helpers are John and Betty Galbraith, longtime supporters of the House of Friendship’s emergency food programs. “The need is off the charts,” John Galbraith said, emphasizing the urgency of the campaign’s mission.
Sarah Andrews, volunteer coordinator for the House of Friendship, highlighted the campaign’s importance in bringing comfort to those in need. “This program really pulls in a lot of people who normally wouldn’t feel comfortable asking for help,” she explained. For many, the turkey and trimmings provided by the drive represent the opportunity to share a special holiday meal with their families.
Despite the challenges posed by the postal strike, the Rotary Club and House of Friendship remain committed to their goal and are still welcoming donations and additional volunteers to ensure no family is left behind this holiday season.
