The Salvation Army Chatham Kent Ministries kicked off their annual Christmas campaign in mid November with their ‘Partners for Change’ event featuring Joe Roberts.
The local goal this year is $450,000, which is comprised of the Red Kettles and the mail-in campaign.
With less than three weeks left until Christmas Eve, The Salvation Army has only collected 35% ($158,933) of the much needed funds.
“Many of the programs and services provided throughout the year are funded by the donations collected at this time of year” says Captain Stephanie Watkinson of The Salvation Army Chatham-Kent Ministries.
“As the demand for the food bank assistance, housing and youth supports and life skills programs continue to increase the need for these financial donations become critical in maintaining the current level of assistance.”
There is currently 15 Red Kettles in Wallaceburg, Chatham and Blenheim.
Blenheim kettles will be finished on Friday, December 9 and Ridgetown will begin on Saturday, December 10.
Financial donations can also be dropped off at any of our locations.
Salvation Army officials say volunteers are needed for all areas to stand by the kettles. If people can donate two hours of their time, they are being asked to call the local kettle coordinator.
The Salvation Army is busy filling the requests for food and toy hampers which will be distributed on December 20 to 22 in Ridgetown, Wallaceburg and Chatham.
The number of hampers required has increased slightly from last year.
Food hampers are up 6% and toy hampers are up 16%.
Contact information is found on www.cksalvationarmy.org.
Donations can also be made online at www.fillthekettle.com to one of the Chatham-Kent kettles.
All funds donated throughout Chatham-Kent are used in their local area.
