Calgary charities feeling the pinch 5 months after floods

Some Calgary charities are wondering if the June floods are behinda downturn in volunteers and donations.

• Flood donations could hurt other charities, expert warns

The Magic of Christmas is a group that organizes the stuff-a-bus event.Now in its 30th year, the campaign has never had a problem getting volunteers.

"We've had two registrations so far and we're falling short," said charity spokespersonDean Hopkins.

Seniors Secret Servicegives donated presents to more than 2,700 elderly Calgarians .

"Normally we have every senior matched up with a Secret Santa by Oct. 1," said charity spokesperson Andrea Brumwell.

"This year by Oct.15,we were still short 800."

Thanks to some media coverage, volunteers eventually stepped up with gifts but Brumwell says financial contributions are still down 40 per cent.

"I think a lot of it had to do with the flood," she said. "I think people gave very heavily all summer long and there's only so much you can give."

Calgary's Travis McIntosh says the floods may not be the only reason for a downturn.

"With the typhoon relief in the Philippines, that's caused us to have some conversation at home with our kids too about supporting people in other countries who have been affected by something that's out of their control," he said.

Not all charities are hurting.

Inn From the Cold is reporting all of its holiday adopt-a-families have been matched.