Tuesday, May 5th, 2020 is Giving Tuesday Now
What is #GivingTuesdayNow?
This global day of giving and unity will take place on May 5, 2020 in response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. It will rally people around the world to tap into the power of human connection and strengthen communities at the grassroots level. We invite all Canadians to join us in demonstrating the power of kindness and generosity.
A message from Tracy Hucul, Executive Director of Green Action Centre:
I hope that you and your families are keeping well during these troubled times.
Like many of us, navigating life during the coronavirus has been a challenge for me as an individual and as a leader of an organization, raising feelings of vulnerability and frustration. It’s been a daunting time that reminds us we are not invincible and we have a lot to lose.
#GivingTuesdayNow is no ordinary Tuesday. Join us on May 5 for a day of global unity in response to the unprecedented needs resulting from COVID-19.
Climate Change has been called the defining issue of our time, but now we are faced with a new global challenge with the reality of COVID-19. Combined, these extraordinary crises make it all the more apparent we have no time to waste. We need to build our resilience and look for sustainable choices close to home.
The impacts of the pandemic are being felt by everyone – families, communities, businesses, and charitable organizations. Green Action Centre is no exception. We have been hit hard. We’ve experienced more than a 60% reduction in revenue generated by our social enterprise, Compost Winnipeg. We also received a letter from Manitoba Conservation and Climate stating we will receive no provincial funding this year, as funds for projects supporting the Climate and Green Plan are being suspended for the current fiscal year. This $200,000 shortfall in provincial funding, historically part of our annual budget, will directly impact our ability to maintain our sustainable transportation and waste reduction programming and activities that Manitobans depend on.
Please make a special #GivingTuesdayNow donation to Green Action Centre today, or consider supporting another charity close to your heart that is being impacted during these unprecedented times. We are all in this together.
The pandemic shines an even brighter light on climate-related issues. It’s hard not to see the parallels. From feelings of panic about our basic existence and fragility of life, feelings of scarcity as we see how unstable our supply chains are and how dependent we are on others for our needs, to feelings of guilt and anger that the socioeconomic divide means our most vulnerable are the hardest hit. The sobering truth is that we may not be able to protect our children and our families. We need a new normal, one where we’ve figured out how to become more self-sufficient, live within our means, and where we support and build local community capacity.
Will you help us continue our important climate work by making a charitable tax-deductible donation today?
When the WHO declared the pandemic in mid-March, we closed Green Action Centre’s office to the public and our staff started working from home. We immediately began to redesign and pivot our program activities so that we could continue our essential role helping Manitobans live green and live well.
Our Compost Hotline remains open and active, Bike to School Month has been redesigned as Bike Everywhere month, Manitoba Earth Week Online provided daily programming (created with our partners at the Climate Action Team), we developed an interactive online Composting Workshop series for Compost Awareness week, and much more.
Just like with COVID-19, you won’t see the benefits from changes in your behaviour immediately, but it is critical we stay the course. Climate change is a global concern that is being felt at the local scale, impacting everyone. And just like with COVID-19, we need to take decisive action now to have the only real chance of success with the climate crisis – and that means bold, collective efforts by government, businesses and individuals.
We know our work is important but we can’t do it without you. Will you help us?
For #GivingTuesdayNow we are making a special appeal to our supporters to consider becoming a monthly donor of Green Action Centre today, or to make an additional charitable tax-deductible donation to help us weather the year ahead and continue our essential work.
With gratitude,
Tracy Hucul
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