The Christmas season is just around the corner, and the Salvation Army Kenora Community Ministries is gearing up for another Christmas Kettle campaign.
The campaign will officially begin on November 25, 2021, and run through until 18, 2021. This year, the red kettles will be out every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Walmart, Canadian Tire, and No Frills.
The Kenora LCBO will additionally be hosting a location on December 4, 11, and 18, 2021.
Volunteers will be staffed at all four locations from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on weekends.
An unmanned Christmas kettle will be at Safeway where people can donate with their debit or credit cards.
If people don’t have cash in hand to donate they can donate via card as all kettle locations are equipped with that option. Attached to each kettle stand will be $5, $10, and $20 tiles that will allow you to donate that amount by simply tapping your card, phone, smartwatch, or however you pay using tap.
This program is critical to the work of the Salvation Army in the Kenora area as 100 per cent of the money donated will be staying right here in the community.
In 2019 the Christmas Kettles in the surrounding communities received $25,929.89 in total donations. Last year even in the COVID-19 pandemic the kettles exceeded their previous donations goal by raising $45 more with fewer locations.
As it is every year volunteers are needed to stand at the kettle locations.
Stuart Walter, Christmas Kettle Coordinator spoke on the importance of volunteers to this campaign.
“We can’t do the kettle program without kettle volunteers. We’re looking for people to stand at the kettles. It’s two-hour shifts. If you’re an older high school still looking for volunteer hours before you graduate we can offer those,” said Walter.
No prior experience is needed to volunteer, with the only requirement being that volunteers have had at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
If people are interested they can contact Walter by phone at 1-204-307-1580, or by email at Stuart.Walter@salvationarmy.ca