Peter Kim at the launch of the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle fundraiser (photo by Liam Verster)

By Liam Verster

Charity

Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle campaign in need of donations, volunteers

Nov 14, 2019 | 5:03 AM

The Grande Prairie Salvation Army is calling for donations, and volunteers, for their annual Christmas Kettle fundraiser.

A brass quartet played Christmas tunes as the Salvation Army launched their fundraising campaign at the Prairie Mall on Wednesday, November 13. Until December 24, volunteers will be stationed around Grande Prairie, ringing bells and collecting donations for the charity.

Along with the traditional donations of cash and change, this year the Salvation Army has acquired Point of Sales machines. Peter Kim, the Executive Director of the Collective Kitchen and Food Bank, says having these machines will make it easier for people to get into the giving spirit.

“With that, people who don’t carry cash or change can actually donate using their Interact or Visa or Mastercard. With the electronic world that we live in, they can still have an option to donate.”

Kim says the people of Grande Prairie are very giving and supportive of the Salvation Army, and they hope to see record donations this year.

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“For 2019, our fundraising goal is $525,000. Last year our goal was $500,000, but the community was very generous in raising $521,000. So we’re thankful for the community, for their generosity, but we’re also hoping that the community will continue to support the Salvation Army’s work this year.”

The money raised over the course of just a few weeks goes to support the services the charity provides year round, including the food bank and soup kitchen, which supports between 600 and 1,000 local people each year.

Kim adds that they have also launched a new support program, called A Pathway to Hope.

“We have a caseworker that helps journey with those who are in need, to help get them out of the cycle of poverty, so that they can make sure there isn’t any generational poverty going forward. So, we’ll journey with them throughout the year, to help them to stop using the food bank.”

The Salvation Army also plans to use some of the money to obtain an Emergency Disaster Services Canteen. Kim says they would use that canteen as a type of food truck, which could be used to support first responders during emergencies and disasters, as well as with street ministry work and feeding people on the street.

Along with collecting donations, the Salvation Army is in desperate need of volunteers to work at the kettle’s in two hour shifts. Kim says they have over 1,150 shifts that still need to be filled over the next five weeks.

Anyone who wants to volunteer is asked to call Lynne at 780-538-2848. People can also go through the Salvation Army website to sign up, but Kim says they would prefer if people call.

“That way we can get all the shifts scheduled as well. It’s easier when we talk to the people who are volunteering, so that we can schedule people at the appropriate spots that they want.”

This year, the Salvation Army has 12 Kettles set up to collect donations.

“So we’re going to be at Canadian Tire, Costco , No Frills, Save-on-Foods. We’re going to be at both Safeways, we’re going to be at the Freson Bros., at the (Prairie) mall, Superstore, as well as the new Co-op in the North End, as well as the Co-op downtown.”

Kim says he hopes to see Grande Prairie residents get into the spirit of giving and generosity, and donate some time and money to the charity, to help support those in need. He hopes that many people come forward to donate and volunteer their time, adding that people may end up loving it, and turn the volunteering into a fun family tradition.

The Salvation Army has been operating in Grande Prairie for 100 years, and Kim says he’s very thankful to the community, who have come forward over the years to help those less fortunate.