The Grande Prairie Salvation Army’s annual Kettle Campaign is entering its last weeks before the jingle bells are hung up and Captain Peter Kim says the biggest need besides donations is volunteers as turnout has been smaller than anticipated.
“We’re looking for more volunteers, as time goes on, we’re looking for new volunteers or people looking to share that Christmas spirit, as well as raising funds, and helping families in need in our community.
Kim says volunteering is easy, as shifts are two hours long, and the work is simple yet rewarding.
“If you brought in say $100 or so, you could think of that two-hour shift as feeding a family of five.”
Currently, the Grande Prairie Salvation Army serves around one in five residents, or more than 12,000 people in need during the holidays. As a result, the army set a goal ahead of the Kettle Campaign to raise $650,000, and Kim says funding is around halfway there.
“We are at $328,000 of the $650,000, just over halfway there, but we still have two weeks left in the year.”
He adds the trend is typical for this time of year and donations tend to start hot at the beginning of the campaign, before dropping into a lull and picking up once again as Christmas Day gets closer.
“If people still want to donate they can mail in their donation, [but] that’s what we’re seeing a drop in, mail-in donations, so we’re hoping people will do that,” Kim says. “Those who are able to give, give very generously, and usually do so in the last two weeks of the year.”
A noticeable number of young volunteers have been ringing the bells this year, and Captain Kim says this has been a welcome surprise as some lifelong volunteers have started to age out of their role with the campaign.
“This year we’ve seen a lot of new volunteers joining our campaign and we’re grateful for that,” he says. “A lot of our seniors aren’t able to make it out so we’re grateful to see the new generation stepping up to help out.”
The campaign ends on December 23rd; however, donations are accepted year-round in-person, online, or by mailing a cheque. Those interested in signing up for a kettle shift are encouraged to contact the Salvation Army at (780)-296-3946.
