The official start to the annual Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign began with “ringing in” festivities at the Kelowna Walmart store Friday morning.
The Salvation Army in the Central Okanagan distributed over 450 Christmas Hampers. This is in addition to the regular assistance given each and every day through their Community Life Center office.
“Each year, the needs just seem to grow” says Pastor Darryl Burry, executive director for The Salvation Army in the Central Okanagan. “There are a lot of hurting people in our community – people who struggle financially to make it through the day – wondering if they will pay their rent/mortgage, or put food on the table for their family. These are very real concerns for many families right here in the Central Okanagan.”
The Salvation Army’s year-round assistance to families of emergency food, clothing, furniture and other provisions continues to rise. “The needs are great, and we do not see any sign of it slowing down in the near future, ” said Pastor Burry. “The funds that are raised during our Christmas Kettle Campaign allow us to continue to support our local community at Christmas and throughout the year.”
All donations collected through the Christmas campaign stay local to support local programs.
The Salvation Army needs an army of volunteers to smile and ring the bells at a kettle for two-hour shifts from now until Dec 24 at business locations throughout Kelowna and West Kelowna. This is a perfect volunteer opportunity for a busy person, as two-hour shifts are scheduled based on your availability. To sign up and for a full listing of kettle locations, please visit their website at kelownasalvationarmy.ca or by contacting their Kettle Campaign scheduler Beverly at 250-860-2329, ext. 335.
To learn more about how you can support the Christmas Kettle Campaign visit their website at kelownasalvationarmy.ca or by calling 250-860-2329.
