{"id":53700,"date":"2024-12-06T15:28:22","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T19:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chmafm.com\/welcome\/?p=53700"},"modified":"2024-12-06T15:28:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T19:28:25","slug":"tantramar-wide-emergency-assistance-program-could-face-shortfall-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chmafm.com\/welcome\/tantramar-wide-emergency-assistance-program-could-face-shortfall-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Tantramar-wide emergency assistance program could face shortfall in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Volunteers pick out gifts for children as part of the Sackville Christmas Cheer program in December 2023. Photo: Erica Butler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tantramar Community Association treasurer John Higham is concerned that recent growth in the group\u2019s Christmas Cheer and Community Assistance programs could mean difficulties in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re quite a bit behind where we were last year in terms of the amount of money that was coming in,\u201d says Higham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Christmas Cheer program provides grocery vouchers and children\u2019s gifts for Sackville families each December, and the Community Assistance program provides aid throughout the year to families who may need help covering a high power bill or rent payment. In 2024, the cost to provide that help more than doubled, and the cost to deliver Christmas Cheer jumped 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those increases, coupled with further expected increases this year, mean the demand for donations is high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur practices are that Christmas Cheer takes precedence,\u201d says Higham, \u201cand whatever we have left over is what we\u2019ll be able to deal with. So that\u2019s where we are at this point\u2026 We\u2019ll do what we can do, but that\u2019s all we\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hear this story as reported on Tantramar Report:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n