The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign kicks off
Community support more important than ever this year
Peterborough, Nov. 7, 2023—The Salvation Army Christmas Kettles will kick off on November 16th at 11 a.m. at Lansdowne Place near the food court with Mayor Jeff Leal representing the city. It’s a familiar sight that pops up at busy locations each fall reminding us that Christmas is not far off, but what is the money used for?
In short, to support the community. The Salvation Army in Peterborough strives to help those in Peterborough and the surrounding area who need it the most. They do that through their Food Bank, Breakfast Program, Christmas food assistance, the Christmas Toy Shop, and a variety of other programs.
Goals for fundraising are set reflecting the previous year while taking into consideration future expectations.
Unfortunately, the number of people needing services is rising faster than their budget.
For The Salvation Army to offer such services, they rely heavily on the money raised from the Christmas Kettle Campaign. Last year they surpassed a target of $100,000 due to the outpouring of generosity from the community. This year, a goal of $110,000 was set that can only be accomplished through the faithful support of fellow community members.
Donations, no matter how big or small, are important, whether they be of a monetary nature, or volunteer time. To make donating easier, the kettle stands offer three options. The familiar round kettle bubble is available for cash and coins, and each one is also equipped with a TipTap machine, making it convenient for those who might not carry cash to donate using a credit or debit card. TipTap options are in $5, $10, and $20 denominations and can be ‘tapped’ multiple times for donations of higher amounts. As well, there are cards located at the top of the kettle stand with QR codes for people who prefer to use their phones to donate online. All monies donated will stay in Peterborough.
The Salvation Army is always in great need of volunteers to help with their Christmas Kettle Campaign. Without people to stand at a kettle, they are not able to raise the funds required to provide the services they do for those in the community who need them. With generally five shifts per day per kettle, some days my require up to 30 volunteers. The call is out for more kettle volunteers this Christmas season!
The Salvation Army in Peterborough is unbelievably grateful for the kindness of others as they strive to support their community during the Christmas season and throughout the year. Those who would like to be a part of this incredible community response can contact Brian Lee, Volunteer Coordinator at 705-742-4391 Ext. 225, or by email at Peterborough.Christmas@salvationarmy.ca.
