The Ottawa Mission asks for online, call-in donations amidst Canada Post strike

The Ottawa Mission is encouraging donors to make their contributions directly online or over the phone, as a second Canada Post strike hinders the charity’s ability to collect donations through the mail.

The organization says the impacts the strike poses are “particularly severe” for the charity that relies heavily on donations.

Canada Post workers walked off the job Sept. 25, expressing their displeasure toward the federal government’s decision to pull back on Canada Post services over the next few years.

This is the second time the postal union has been on strike in a year. Approximately 55,000 postal workers were on strike from Nov. 15 to Dec. 17, 2024 after over a year of bargaining without reaching an agreement.

The hurdle for donations is concerning for The Ottawa Mission, as there is a growing demand for its services. From 2024 to 2025, the Mission provided shelter to 1,248 unique individuals and served 1,208,935 meals across the city to those who would otherwise go hungry.

Nearly 60 per cent of the Mission’s budget is made up of donations, and one-third of those donations are received through the mail, a statement from the organization says. Without these donations, there would be a significant reduction in services provided.

With holiday season right around the corner, the Ottawa Mission is reminding donators there are three other ways to make contributions that will not be impacted by the strike. Those include in-person donations, call in donations and online donations.