“I shouldn’t be amazed after all these years, but I’m amazed every single time how well people respond.”
Captain Ian Scott from the Salvation Army, speaking with Chris Martens on Country 94.1 on January 29th, shared his appreciation for the incredible support the Salvation Army has received over the last few months.
Between Toys Days donations and pantry and Thrift Store donations, Capt. Scott said the community’s support has been outstanding – but not entirely unexpected.
“Swift Current is right at the top across the country on a per capita basis for fundraising and support,” he said. “That means that our community of 16,000 people is raising over $250,000. We made more money than Regina [last year], an amount comparable to even Winnipeg and some of those other larger centers.”
But Capt. Scott has witnessed the strength of this community before and knows that they’ll always come out to support those in need.
“All you have to do is ask,” he said. “And then you get that moment of community, of people realizing, ‘These are my friends, my family, my neighbours, and I can help.’ We're privileged to have the trust and support of the community that allows us to do this.”
Right now, the Salvation Army is asking for spring clothing donations to the Thrift Store. Spring is (hopefully) coming up quickly, and the Thrift Store would like to see more warm-weather clothing options come in to make that transition easier.
“As long as [the donated items] are clean and in good, usable condition, they’re much appreciated. It’s a great option for many people in the community, and the funds go back into local programs.”
This past December, The Salvation Army teamed up with Canadian Tire’s Toys Days to bring Christmas Gifts to families in the community. While Salvation Army services are needed year-round, services like the food pantry and Thrift Store are especially necessary during the holidays, which means an increased need for donations.
“It was a really incredible turnout,” said Capt. Scott. “By the time it was all said and done, we had about 160 more registrations than we had last year and ended up with 3 full bins of toy donations. We even had young children excited to donate their toys to the cause.”
Outside of the Christmas season, the Salvation Army is involved in other community efforts, including disaster relief, summer camps, and keeping the food pantry and thrift store running.
“Our whole slogan is ‘Giving Hope Today,” said Capt. Scott, “So we’re there to give hope in any situation we can.”
In the summer, the Salvation Army hosts summer camps across the country. One of the nearest camps is at Beaver Creek, just outside of Saskatoon.
“These camps are available to kids across the province,” said Capt. Scott. “Depending on the camp, kids can attend at minimal- or no-cost, so every child has an equal chance to have fun during their summer break.”
One lesser-known aspect of the Salvation Army is its disaster relief programs. Members will help out during natural disasters, like floods or forest fires, or smaller disasters including house and apartment fires. They volunteer their labour, as well as offer emotional and spiritual support, and basic needs like food, water, and shelter. Just last summer, Capt. Scott and other Salvation Army members aided the Jasper community during the devastating fires in the town.
“We’re right there with the first responders,” said Capt. Scott. “We’ll have our canteen truck on site with coffee and meals, and spiritual and emotional care for those in the area affected. We’re there to give hope when the firefighters or police are exhausted, when people are in distress, just offering that hand on the shoulder where it’s needed.”
The Salvation Army is proud to offer their support wherever they can, and Capt. Scott is especially proud of the Swift Current community, and how they go above and beyond to help those in need.