THUNDER BAY – With five days left in the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign, we still need about $69,000 to reach our goal of $220,000. We are encouraging the community to continue to support the kettles, and are confident that the generous people of Thunder Bay will come through for us, as always.
The kettles are staffed 100% by volunteers. Hundreds of volunteers have been out staffing the kettles, singing, playing music, and ringing bells including faithful long-term volunteers and many new friends. There are a few shifts left to fill. We are especially in need of volunteers for the Dawson LCBO, Walmart Memorial, Thunder Centre LCBO. On Christmas Eve we are short of volunteers between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at Dawson LCBO, Superstore, and Walmart County Fair. Volunteers are also needed for an on-call list to fill-in on short notice. Anyone interest can call 345-6492.
The kettle funds are helping with our Christmas needs but they are especially important to ensure that we are able to meet the needs throughout the coming year. Demands continue for our services such as the soup van that feeds 100 – 160 people per night or the food bank that provides hampers to families and individuals with limited financial resources.
Why is this campaign important? The Kettle Campaign supports all of the events that the Salvation Army holds in our city. This includes the Christmas Dinner – Video is of the 2018 dinner just held this past weekend.
‘With the high prices we face these days, many people have to make choices between things we take for granted, like choosing between heat and food. Christmas can magnify those issues for people, but with your help, we can give them some hope that others care about them,’ said Major Lori Mitchell, The Salvation Army Community & Residential Services, Executive Director
There are many people and businesses who are contributing to the campaign. This past Saturday, Walmart agreed to match kettle donations up to a national commitment of $100,000. We would acknowledge Half-way Motors Nissan for providing the use of a vehicle for the campaign, Mastrangelo Fuels for donating fuel for the vehicle, and Tbaytel for the use of a phone for our kettle coordinator. Many businesses, clubs and other groups have taken time on the Kettles. Along with these fantastic groups there is an extensive list of individual volunteers who cover a large part of our kettle schedule.
We are most thankful to the businesses that welcome the kettles at their establishments. Donations to the Kettle campaign will be accepted until 1:00 p.m. on December 24th at the following locations: Superstore, Intercity Shopping Centre, Grandview Mall, Walmart County Fair, Walmart Memorial Ave., Walmart Arthur St. Marketplace, and the LCBO’s at Arthur St., Thunder Centre, and Dawson Rd.
Supporters can host their own Kettle and collect donations online or make a donation through the online kettle at www.fillthekettle.com (all donations from this area will be directed to the Thunder Bay kettle campaign). Alternatively, donations can be made by calling 345-6492.
