A red Salvation Army sign over a donation kettle is about as sure a sign of Christmas as a wreath on a door or Santa in a mall.
The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign is a Christmas tradition that goes back more than 125 years, with the first kettle set out in San Francisco in 1891. At the time, it was a real kettle and the donations were coming in to keep it boiling so one Salvation Army officer could provide meals to those who couldn’t afford their own.
In Collingwood, the kettles went out last weekend, starting December 1, they’ll be out every day except Sundays.
For Major Neil Evenden of the Collingwood Salvation Army, the Christmas tradition of a Salvation Army Kettle Campaign goes back four generations.
“It’s the most significantly visible fundraisers for the programs of the Salvation Army,” said Evenden. “We appreciate the volunteers who organize it and man the kettles.”
He said it takes about 16 people to run the kettles from Monday to Thursday, and 24 people to run the kettles on weekends. The volunteers come from within the congregation and from outside of it as well.
The funds raised in the Collingwood Salvation Army kettle campaign go to help fund community services including the food bank.
Each year, the local Salvation Army raises about $90,000 through kettle donations. According to Evenden, they typically have to raise in excess of $250,000 to run the existing programs for people in need in the community.
Evenden and his wife, Merrilee (also a Major) have been with the Salvation Army for 33 years. He went to Ottawa after the tornado to bring aid to victims. He’s on call to bring relief to Florida residents who might be impacted by hurricanes.
During the First and Second World War, Salvation Army officers – Evenden’s grandfather among them – went to the front lines to make dinner for the soldiers.
“When they had so little, we gave them help,” said Evenden. “The Salvation Army is there when things go wrong in life.”
One of the Salvation Army’s services includes the year-round food bank. Non-perishable food items are donated, and Salvation Army volunteers will use funds raised to buy milk, eggs, bread, margarine, hamburger, apples, potatoes, and carrots every week.
Evenden said it’s important for the food bank to receive an influx of donations at Christmas time. Often, the donations that come in at Christmas will last through August. In Collingwood, there is extra giving from the Salvation Army through the Christmas Hamper program.
“I’m anticipating more than 200 households for the Christmas Hamper program this year,” said Evenden. “That’s equivalent to about 800 people, and about 300 or more will be kids.”
The Christmas Hamper contains all the things a family would need on Christmas day, including food, gift cards for fresh produce, and gifts for the kids.
“We provide them with stuff to have a good Christmas,” said Evenden. “We try to be as generous as we can.”
You can donate food and new, unwrapped toys to the hamper program and Salvation Army food bank at most grocery stores in marked donation bins, or by delivering items to the Salvation Army food bank. Toys for the hamper program must be delivered by Dec. 14, as hampers are being given out Dec. 15.
Food items most needed include canned vegetables or fruit, but not pasta.
Kettles and bell ringers will be at Loblaw and Wal Mart in Collingwood this Friday and Saturday and then Monday-Saturday starting Dec. 3. They will also be at the LCBO on Friday and Saturdays in December.
There will be kettles at Walmart and Superstore in Wasaga Beach as well.
