Editor's note: The telephone number for Kimberley Murphy has been corrected.
A reminder that Christmas is just around the corner arrived this week as Salvation Army rolled out its annual Christmas Kettle campaign.
The kettle is Salvation Army’s most famous street campaign where volunteers stand in front of red kettles, sing Christmas carols and ring bells to collect donations.
“If someone is looking for a way to give back to the community, this is a great way to do that,” said Powell River Salvation Army captain BJ Loder.
The campaign kicked off Monday, November 18 and will run right up to Christmas Eve.
Money raised helps locals in need, not only at Christmas but throughout the entire year, supporting individuals and families with nutritious meals, emergency food and clothing.
“It’s not just for Christmas,” said Loder. “By giving at Christmas you can bless us throughout the year and be able to help others.”
Salvation Army needs kettle hosts to fill the nearly 1,400 volunteer hours throughout the campaign. Volunteering at a Christmas kettle can mean as little as two hours and make a lasting difference in the community.
Loder, who moved to Powell River from Manitoba this summer with his family to take the church appointment, said he is confident, based on what he has seen so far, that they will not have a problem finding enough people to take shifts at the kettles.
“It’s going to take an incredible amount of volunteers, but I can already see Powell River is incredible at this,” he said.
Kimberley Murphy is helping out as a volunteer kettle coordinator again this year. “This is the Salvation Army’s only fundraiser,” said Murphy. “All money raised in Powell River stays in Powell River.”
Individuals, families and groups, including corporations, churches, service clubs and organizations, are encouraged to take part. Kettle hosts are needed at five indoor locations throughout the city. One kettle is located in the Safeway store and three kettles in the Town Centre Mall: outside the BC Liquor Store; inside Save-On-Foods; and outside Walmart. The last of the five is located inside Quality Foods.
Kettles are open for donations from 10 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday, however some may close at 5:30 pm depending on their location.
Murphy has been using social media to promote Salvation Army’s community campaigns and said she has never known the organization to turn anyone in need away. “This is not even my home church, but this is the reason why I do it,” she said.
Loder is also encouraging people in need of Christmas hampers to submit their applications early to take the last-minute pressure off volunteers who give up time with their families during the holidays to help out.
Salvation Army is working in partnership with Powell River and District Christmas Cheer Committee on the food hampers and any need above what the committee can provide will be handled by Salvation Army.
For more information about how to support the campaign readers can contact Murphy at 604.483.3045 or Salvation Army at 604.485.6067.
