The Salvation Army Christmas hampers were handed out in Wallaceburg on Wednesday. Meanwhile, volunteers are still needed in Chatham and Wallaceburg to help with the on-going kettle campaign.
Hampers dolled out, numbers on target
Captain Steven Holland, with the Salvation Army Chatham-Kent Ministries, says people received their hampers, toys and Christmas baskets, as their team of volunteers set up at the old Sobey’s building in Wallaceburg.
“Making sure everybody gets what they need for Christmas,” Holland told the Sydenham Current.
Holland said in Wallaceburg, as of Wednesday morning, they’re fundraising total is up $11,000.
“So they’ve raised $40,000 so far in Wallaceburg,” he said.
“Through the whole Chatham-Kent area, we’re up about $1,800, but we still have three major days to go to bring our numbers up to where they need to be. I’m hopeful that it will all come through. We’re new here, but I’m sure the community has always been very supportive to help us reach our goals.”
Holland said the overall goal for their Christmas campaign in Chatham-Kent is $460,000.
“We do a mail out and a kettle program,” he said.
“That pays for the food for the hampers, it pays for the toys if we get short, it pays for some of our staff, but it also helps throughout the year for our programs and our food banks, some of the other programs we provide throughout the community. We do a lot for the community here in Wallaceburg, and Ridgetown and Chatham and all over.”
Holland said the Salvation Army couldn’t do what they do, without their volunteers.
“We’re one of the biggest organizations in Canada for volunteers, in total I think we have 10,000 volunteers across Canada,” Holland said.
“That helps us distribute our toys. We only have a few staff, so without our volunteers to stand at the kettles, to hand out the boxes, to pack toys, to pack the boxes and distribute them. There are so many things that volunteers do, so without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”
Holland came to Chatham-Kent earlier this year with his wife Captain Karen Holland.
“This is our first year in the Chatham-Kent area,” he said.
“We’re surprised at how much support the Salvation Army has received and continues to receive over the years. We look forward to many years ahead to be part of this community and wish everybody a Merry Christmas.”
Volunteers needed
Captain Karen Holland says some volunteers are still needed to fill some kettle shifts over the next few days.
“People can’t put money in our kettles if they aren’t out, and they can’t be out if we have nobody to stand at them,” she said.
“Please help if you can.”
Shifts available this week in Chatham:
– Thursday, December 21: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Downtown Chatham Centre
– Friday, December 22: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Canadian Tire, Downtown Chatham Centre, Walmart; 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Walmart; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Canadian Tire, Food Basics, Superstore
– Saturday, December 23: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Giant Tiger, No Frills; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Walmart; 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sobeys, Superstore; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Canadian Tire, No Frills, Food Basics, Superstore
Volunteers are still needed in Wallaceburg as well.
Call Heather Dunlop at â€519-359-7399‬.
Here are some photos from the hamper distribution in Wallaceburg:
– Photo credit: Dana Haggith
