Salvation Army Captain Peter Kim watches Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton make the first donation of the 2022 Christmas Kettle campaign. Photo courtesy EverythingGP

By Jeff Henson

SALVATION ARMY

Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign kicks off for 2022

Nov 17, 2022 | 1:12 PM

The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle campaign in Grande Prairie officially kicked off Thursday morning as Mayor Jackie Clayton made the first donation for this year into one of the iconic red kettles.

The campaign goes until December 24th, with a goal of raising 600 thousand dollars, in order to fund local Salvation Army programs for the year, such as the food bank and the community kitchen.

Captain Peter Kim says the need for those programs in our community has grown significantly.

“We have seen close to twenty per cent of the population access the food bank and the community kitchen. We have seen an increase in the number of seniors on fixed incomes accessing our food bank. And three thousand new households since 2019. So we are relying on the community to help us this year, especially as we have come from two years of COVID and a year of inflation.”

Kim adds each of the kettle locations this year will provide the option for the public of using their debit or credit cards to make a donation.

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“We have piloted it over the past 2-3 years, but it has not really taken off as of yet. So we are hoping to really get that tap going because we realize people do not carry cash these days. So having that tap option, they can just walk by and tap their card.”

The public can also donate online, as well by mail as part of the Salvation Army’s mail-in component of the campaign.

The iconic red kettles will be located at several stores across Grande Prairie.

And Captain Kim says this year more than others, they are struggling to line up volunteers to man the kettles.

“It has been two years of not volunteering and staying at home kind of idea. But now we need people to come back out and celebrate the season and come out and volunteer. It is a great tradition. And two hours of your time gives a lifetime of support to someone in need.”

If you can volunteer for a shift or two, you are asked to call 780-296-3946.