The Red Deer Salvation Army needs the public’s help for its most important fundraiser of the year.
The organization is looking for volunteers for the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign, which starts Nov. 17 and ends Dec. 23.
Donation kettles will be set in various locations around the city including the Bower Place Shopping Centre, both Red Deer Walmart locations, and the Real Canadian Superstore.
The campaign requires volunteers to cover four two-hour shifts between 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at 11 different locations, Monday through Saturday.
“We have people who aren’t able to volunteer this year who have helped in the past. Sometimes it’s health issues or sometimes people have moved away so we always have to keep replenishing volunteers.” said Major Larry Bridger, Corps Officer at Salvation Army in Red Deer.
“If anybody would like to give a couple of hours of their time it would be greatly appreciated.”
The goal of the campaign is to raise $220,000.
“The funds raised support community service programs like the food bank we operate out of our building, our seniors’ lunch program that we do every Friday and our kids feeding program. Right now we are sitting at almost 200 kids that we feed every weekend,” said Bridger.
The Red Deer Salvation Army set a goal of $210,00 last year, and surpassed its goal by raising close to $234,000. Bridger said he expects the community to come through again.
“Red Deer has supported the Salvation Army tremendously. We always get great financial support from the city which enables us to not just continue our existing services, but it also helps us start new ones,” said Bridger. “The people of Red Deer and the surrounding area have been absolutely phenomenal in their support.”
The campaign kickoff takes place at the Bower Place Shopping Centre on Nov. 17 starting at 12 p.m. To volunteer, or for more information on the locations of the donation kettles, call Salvation Army at 403-346-2251 or email them at kettles9@telus.net.
jonathan.guignard@www.reddeeradvocate.com