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Betty Steel (L) and Gerrie Schubert (R) volunteering at the Christmas Kettle at the Co-Op
By Liam Verster
Volunteers needed for Christmas Kettles

Volunteers desperately needed for Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign

Dec 5, 2019 | 2:43 PM

The Salvation Army in Grande Prairie is calling for volunteers to help with the annual Christmas Kettle campaign.

The not-for-profit is using the fundraiser to support programs and services operated in Grande Prairie. That includes the food bank and community kitchen, which last year provided over 30,000 meals to everyone from single mothers, to the elderly, to those who have lost their jobs. The money will also be used to stock the toy centre and Christmas hampers for families in need.

The Salvation Army is also planning to use the money raised to fund future programs, such as Emergency Disaster Services and a Pathway of Hope program to help stop the cycle of poverty.

The fundraising campaign has been running since November 14, and Executive Director of the Food Bank and Community Kitchen, Captain Peter Kim, says they are halfway through the campaign, but not even halfway to the target goal.

“As of December 5, we are sitting at $159,376. Our goal for 2019 is $525,000. So we’re just getting on our way, but we’re hoping to meet our goal this year.”

He says in order to meet that goal, they not only need people to donate, they also need people to run the kettle stations.

“We have been very much struggling on the volunteer end for kettle ringers and bell ringers. So, we’re hoping that the community will step up on that end as well. Without the kettles out, we’re not able to raise the funds that we need. And if they want to volunteer, it’s just a two-hour shift, they can call 780-538-2848, and it’s a great way to ring in the Christmas season.”

He adds that it’s also a great family activity that will not only raise money for those in need but also teach the next generation of the importance of charity and donating.

Kim says people should call them if they want to volunteer, to help streamline scheduling a time and location to volunteer.

“We have multiple locations and multiple time slots. We begin our kettles at 10:00 in the morning, and we end at 8:00 p.m., and that’s various locations around the city. The Superstore, the Prairie Mall, the Save-on-Foods, both Safeways, Canadian Tire, No Frills, and the two Co-Ops and the Walmart. I think next week we’re going to be opening at Costco as well, so there are a lot of different locations that people could come and donate and support the work of the Salvation Army.”

Kim says they are so desperate for volunteers, they have even had to close some of those locations. He says they need people to put aside some time during this Christmas season to help raise money for the charity, and subsequently the less fortunate.

Along with donating time, Kim is calling on Grande Prairie residents to donate money. This year, the Salvation Army has Point of Sales debit machines at their kettles, and Kim says it’s helped in the fundraiser.

“We are actually seeing some success in that. We’re hoping that more people will be able to tap and donate. It’s a great way to donate when you don’t have a lot of change in your pocket, and sometimes in this cashless society, sometimes you just don’t have that cash on you, but it’s a great way, another option, to donate to a worthy cause.”

Anyone interested in volunteering to run a Salvation Army Christmas Kettle for a few hours this Christmas season is asked to call Lynne at 780-538-2848. More information on ways to get involved can be found at the Salvation Army of Grande Prairie’s website.

by Liam Verster