By Scott Roblin

Non-profits fire back following Christmas closure concerns

Jan 3, 2018 | 5:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Christmas season is a busy time for non-profit organizations, providing food and shelter to the less fortunate.

However, concerns are being raised on social media that some people may have fallen through the cracks.

The Salvation Army’s Resource Centre runs five days a week in the Fifth Avenue United Church, providing a place for homeless people and those down on their luck.

Many of the users travel from the Champion Centre following breakfast at 11:00 am and stay at the Resource Centre until they can be transitioned to the Salvation Army Centre of Hope shelter at 7:00 pm.

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On Christmas Day and Boxing Day however, the privately-funded Resource Centre was closed to the public.

Executive Director with the Salvation Army Major Murray Jaster said their doors were closed simply because they don’t have the resources to operate on stat holidays.

“It runs Mondays to Fridays, it doesn’t run on stat holidays,” said Jaster. “We only have staffing for Monday to Friday, so if it’s a stat or it falls on a weekend we’re not open.”

The Resource Centre was opened for three days between New Year’s Eve and January 2 however, with Jaster and his wife joining two others to run the operation during the cold snap.

Jaster said they weren’t the only place to turn to over the holiday break.

“The Kiwanis put on their annual lunch meal, which is well attended,” he said. “And, the Spirit of Christmas, which is sponsored by the United Way and held at River Park Church, is a supper program at five o’clock. That was all happening on Christmas Day, so there were options.”

Jaime Rogers with the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society said community housing organizations in Medicine Hat had their bases covered.

“Because there were services open and that anyone could access them, they weren’t at risk,” said Rogers. “If we thought anyone was at risk, we would have intervened or had other resources available. We know the Medicine Hat Police Service is very responsive if they see someone as well.”

Some online, including former mayoral candidate Scott Raible, also caused a stir regarding the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank closing for 10 days over the holiday stretch.

Raible stated that it would appear to put the adults and children who rely on the food bank at risk, but he said he had no specific examples when we contacted him.

He did state however, that it was a questionable strategy and worried for families with children out of school.

We reached out to the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank Association and they replied with this statement.

‘We closed for a few reasons. One is we are typically not very busy between Christmas and New Years because people get extra benefits at this time and do not require the food bank.

Most people who access the food bank also access the Santa Claus Fund, Salvation Army or other Christmas dinners & programs that provide gift cards or vouchers for families to buy groceries. Also, benefits like AiSH, income support and family benefits come out early in December which gives people extra income at this time and then people often find they require more help in January, so it makes sense for us to be closed and give staff and volunteers a break and time with their families.  

We would like to say we also opened extra hours and evenings in the two weeks prior to our Christmas break and gave people one months notice that we would be closed at this time. We also double booked appointments throughout the month to ensure no one was left without food at Christmas.  

As far as someone being turned away. I certainly can not comment on any particular situation due to confidentiality, but I can state our policy which is that no one is turned away for emergency help. We then case manage all individuals and families to create an opportunity to help them out of their situation. Every situation is so very different and so every solution is also different.

In the month of December, we gave out 35,103 lbs of food to clients and we partner all year long with the Champion Centre & the Salvation Army Hot Supper Program, Women Shelter etc. to ensure they have items they need weekly.’

Rogers works with both the Salvation Army and Medicine Hat and District Food Bank, and added they remain in contact with their community partners to ensure no one is left out in the cold.