Fewer people making charitable donations in B.C.

At a time a year where many are thinking about the less fortunate, Vancity has issued a new report indicating British Columbians are donating less.

The percentage of people who made charitable donations has dropped by 15 per cent in the last five years from 74 per cent in 2011 to 59 per cent in 2016, according to the credit union.

The report says the average annual donation has gone from $967 in 2013 to $888 in 2016, and 46 per cent say their ability to make charitable donations has declined in the past three years.

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Charity for the homelessneeds 1,000 giftsfor Christmas

One organization that can attest to that isHomeless Partners.

The group's website has dozens of profileswritten by people in the Lower Mainland and Victoriaon how they came to be homeless, and what they hope to receive for Christmas.

"We've had experiences where when they open their gifts on Christmas morning, a man who has been on the street for many years will begin to cry because no one thought about him before," saidDanielKeeran, co-founder of the organization.

The asks range from smaller items like warm boots, blankets, sleeping bags, to some more extravagant ones, such as computers, and tickets to a Vancouver TimMcgraw/Faith Hill concert in May.

ButKeeransays this year, there are still around 1,000gifts that haven't been funded and he's concerned some people may go without.

He's hoping people will open their wallets after learning the men and women's stories.

"We want people to understand that there's a story that explains the homeless condition that they are in," he said.