(File photo/paNOW)

By Logan Lehmann

Helping hand

Salvation Army seeking bell ringers for annual Christmas Kettle Campaign

Nov 23, 2024 | 4:41 PM

The Salvation Army in Prince Albert is searching for some volunteers this holiday season to help ring those bells for the organization’s annual Christmas Kettle Campaign.

The fundraiser kicked off this past week across the country and is one of Canada’s largest and most recognizable annual charitable events.

Major Ed Dean with the Salvation Army said the work is easy and is a great way to give back.

“Bell ringing is quite easy, it’s standing for two hours at one of our Christmas Kettles. We have 800 kettle shifts to fill this year and the more shifts we fill, the better we will do with our campaign. Every hour that somebody is on a kettle, it makes a huge difference in what we can do in our community throughout the year.”

The money raised helps the organization pay for toys for children and funds their community feeding program, where they serve over 50,000 meals per year to vulnerable men, women and children, or to anyone who is hungry in Prince Albert.

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“As you know, food is not getting cheaper,” said Dean. “These dollars are needed to help cover that cost. The need is still there, we’re serving 150-200 people five times a week at the Salvation Army.”

Across Canada in 2023, the organization served 3.2 million meals that fed families with children, employed people whose low wages don’t cover basic living essentials, individuals on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income, which includes seniors and people with disabilities.

Dean said the initiatives rely on volunteers to keep running.

“It’s all done with volunteers, they’re doing all the cooking and the cleaning. And so now, if we could have some other volunteers step up and say ‘You know what, I could give two hours to my community’ because it’s neighbours helping neighbours.”

Christmas Kettles will be set up at businesses around the city, including at Safeway, Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, Wholesale Club, Save-On-Foods, Co-op Food Store, and the Co-op Liquor Store on 2nd Ave.

Additionally, the Salvation Army will have one at A&W, but the kettle itself will be different from the rest as it’s, what Dean calls, a “tip tap kettle”.

“It’s a kettle with a tap machine, like an electronic kettle, and it’s set up in $10 increments, so they can tap their card at that location and they’re giving to the Salvation Army,” he explained, noting the changing times. “That’s the challenging piece when you don’t carry cash anymore, electronic is the way to go.”

Like in previous years, kettles collecting change will have QR codes attached to them to allow shoppers to scan them to donate online.

Those who wish to volunteer at one of the many Christmas Kettles around Prince Albert can call the Salvation Army office at (306) 763-6078. From there, they can dial the bell ringer extension attached to the phone number.

“We would love to have groups or children singing. There’s lots of different ways they could have some fun, maybe they’ll meet some people they haven’t seen over the year,” said Dean.

Christmas Kettles are taking donations from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. five days a week from Tuesday to Saturday. The final day of the Campaign will be on Christmas Eve.

“Every hour that someone is on a kettle, it could mean a difference in $100.”

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com