Salvation Army kettle co-ordinator Ashley Barnes stands with volunteers Patricia, Ernie and Madalyn Klassen at the Northlands Co-op. The Salvation Army's Kettle Campaign is up and running for the holiday season and the group is hoping to raise $300,000 through mail and in-person donations.--NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker
The Salvation Army’s annual Kettle Campaign is up and running for the Holiday season and the group says it is a very important fundraiser.
“Basically the program relies on volunteers giving a couple hours to sit at a station, ring a bell and collect donations for the Salvation Army,” said campaign co-ordinator Ashley Barnes. “The money raised during this campaign helps all year round with our services.”
There will be bell ringers at 13 locations around the Hat during the Holiday season including Walmart, Safeway locations, Co-op locations, Sobeys, the mall, Superstore and a few others that are still getting up and running.
“Locations are all over the city and as of Dec. 10 we’ll have 13 different locations with at least one station set up,” said Barnes. “They’re all over the city and it’s pretty hard to go out shopping or anything like that and not see one.”
Barnes says the group hopes to raise $300,000 this year with the campaign, which is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Salvation Army.
“We have the stations set up but we also send out personalized letters to people and groups that have donated in the past,” she said. “We’re hoping to raise $140,000 with the Kettles and $160,000 with the mailer donations.
“This is a really big deal for us — it goes towards the resource centre, family services, the hot meal program and a number of other things.”
Barnes says the group is always looking for people to volunteer their time.
“We’re still looking for people to help us out,” she said. “It’s a two-hour time spot and we need people six days of the week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We try our best to listen to peoples’ requests and to put them where they want to be stationed.”
More information can be found by calling 587-253-0740.