Red Kettles Out, Bells Ringing

Rather than creating pre-made food baskets, The Salvation Army developed a new method of providing the food just a year ago. So, if you’d like to help families across the community receive a Christmas meal, all you have to do is deliver your donation to the Salvation Army on Putnam Avenue.

“We’ve had an incredibly generous response already”.

BC Hydro says they are continuing to ‘support Peace region communities through a series of mitigation measures, ‘ as they continue on the Site-C project.

“It takes the stigma away from what we used to do”, said Arlene “Wiggy” Olson, director of the Salvation Army’s Soup’s On! program, which trains people for jobs in the culinary field in its kitchen at 4050 Conshohocken Ave.

One red kettle will kick off the annual Salvation Army red kettle campaign.

The roof had been identified as the Centre’s biggest need.

Morrison said donations to Wayside help 30,000 people a year.

“This really comes in handy for us”, Taylor said.

The married leaders of the Salvation Army are also seeking volunteers to ring the bells at the kettles. “If we don’t have volunteers, we can’t work”. “We have a lot of openings for anyone who wouldn’t mind ringing a bell for a two-hour shift”.

In years past, anywhere from 250-300 hampers are distributed to families throughout Cranbrook. If somebody gave them turkey and potatoes, but they need the spices, then they can purchase that.

The Salvation Army, said Vanderzwaan, is part of what makes the holidays special for him, particularly after years spent watching volunteers donate and create gift packages for those in need. “We have new names on our list every year and in 2014, the appeal helped 204 families who would have struggled to have any kind of Christmas without the unbelievable kindness of every single person who donated a toy”.

The season is off to a good start, according to Lt. Shane Carter of the Bradford Salvation Army.

Former deputy district attorney Fernand LaRochelle leads the distribution on behalf of St. Michael and said the hope is that the children who participate are inspired to remain involved in the community. By working together, the approximately 140 churches, groups, organizations and others are able to help over 3,000 residents of Sandusky County each year.