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The Salvation Army officially kicked off its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign Thursday morning at its annual Hope in the City breakfast at the Fort Garry Hotel.
The goal for this year's campaign is to reach $375,000.
"Those funds will go to support all the programs and services that support families and individuals here in the city," said Major Al Hoeft, the Divisional Secretary for Public Relations of the Salvation Army, Prairie Division. "Residential services, day programs, Christmas assistance and the toy programs. We're looking forward to being able to take the donations people bring to the Salvation Army, so we can continue to serve their community."
The famous kettles will be set up at various locations around the city and will remain there until just before Christmas.
To help keep the campaign going, the Salvation Army says they need help from volunteers.
"We could certainly use anybody who wants to come out and help us out and be a bell-ringer on one of our kettles. We would certainly love to hear from people. If they do it, I'm sure they'll find it to be a very rewarding experience."
Every donation to any of the 2,000 kettle locations across the country remains in the community in which it was given to support local needs.
Donations can be made at any of the kettles, online at SalvationArmy.ca or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
With files from Sylvia St. Cyr