The jingling bells of the Christmas kettles for the Salvation Army will again be a common sight around Weyburn businesses during the month of December.
Now in its 126th year, the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign seeks donations from the public to help the Salvation Army assist those Canadians living in poverty..
Volunteers are needed to help fill two-hour shifts for the kettles, which will be set up in four locations around Weyburn every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The kettles went on display on December 1, and will stay displayed until December 23.
The locations will be the Prairie Sky Co-op food store, Wal-Mart, Wholesale Club, and the liquor board store.
According to a survey, more than half of all donors to the Salvation Army list “giving to a Christmas kettle” as their primary method of giving to the Salvation Army.
All donations given in Weyburn will stay in Weyburn to support the programs offered by the local Salvation Army, said kettle coordinator Helen Orsted, who noted the goal for this year is $33,000.
If cheques are placed in the kettles, they will be receipted. Those who wish to volunteer for a two-hour shift manning a kettle can contact Orsted at 306-842-6485 or 306-861-4599.
With one in 10 Canadians struggling to make ends meet, the Salvation Army’s advertising campaign focuses on the fact that “Poverty isn’t always easy to see, especially during the holidays.”
With a national $21-million fundraising goal, the Christmas Kettle Campaign enables local Salvation Army units in 400 communities across Canada help individuals and families with the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing and shelter.
Contributions also allow the Salvation Army to continue operating its life-changing programs, such as substance abuse recovery, housing supports, job and skills training, and budgeting and education classes, which help people find a way out of poverty, permanently.
“The Salvation Army has provided hope and dignity for more than 130 years through the generosity of our donors and volunteers,” says Major Les Marshall, territorial public relations and development secretary for Salvation Army Canada.
“Hosted at more than 2,000 locations across Canada, the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign is our largest fundraising drive of the year and would not be possible without the thousands of kettle workers who volunteer their time,” said Marshall.
Every donation to a Christmas Kettle remains in the community in which it was given, in order to help local people in need. Last year, the Salvation Army helped over 1.9 million people in need.
More information about the work of the Salvation Army can be found in their annual report.
Online donations to the 2016 Christmas Kettle Campaign can be made at www.FilltheKettle.com, www.SalvationArmy.ca.
Supporters can also host their own online kettle and encourage their friends, family, neighbours and coworkers to donate to the Salvation Army. These online kettles can be created at www.FilltheKettle.com.
