A Moose Jaw couple’s Christmas-themed porcelain village amazed many people during the festive season and generated nearly $400 in donations, all of which are now in the Salvation Army’s hands.
Bruce Miller and his wife, Erine Allen, hosted the 140-item display at their home from Dec. 1 to Jan. 9, which attracted dozens of people from near and far.
From mini figurines carolling, sleigh riding and down-hill skiing — even a Grinch for good measure —to churches, town halls, a movie theatre, a train station, a Ferris wheel, Roughrider-themed buildings and a ballroom, the display delighted young and old.
With the 10-table diorama now closed for the season, Miller handed the Salvation Army’s Lt. Lester Ward $389.50 during a presentation on Jan. 9.
Sixty-one people visited the workshop during the five weeks, which was 20 people fewer than in 2021, Miller said. However, the number of donations this year was higher year over year.
“We had one lady come here three times with family and groups. We also had others come through two to three times,” he said. “It worked really well.”
Unlike in 2021, no one from south or southwest of Moose Jaw visited this year because of the weather, Miller continued. Throughout December it was cold, while there were a couple of blizzards and an icy blast that covered roads.
Additional activities were also happening throughout the community this year — Christmas concerts, the Santa parade, Wakamow Valley light show — that likely kept people from visiting.
However, what made the exhibition worthwhile in Miller’s mind was when a three-year-old boy visited and proudly informed him that — after counting carefully — there were 41 Santa Clauses scattered throughout the massive scene.
Miller and Allen are unsure if they will host the Christmas display again in 2023 because of poor health. Many people asked about the display’s future during visits, with one person suggesting the Western Development Museum could take it and the daughter of a city councillor suggesting they could find a home for the items.
“It’s fun, but it would not work without (community) support,” Miller added.
The Salvation Army is thankful and appreciative for the donation and what Miller and Allen did during the Christmas season, said Ward.
While the non-profit agency doesn’t have exact numbers of how many families it helped this Christmas, it knows that it gave out toys to more than 300 children in Moose Jaw and area, he continued. The cost to distribute hampers and toys would likely have been prohibitive if it weren’t for community donations.
“We’re so thankful for everyone who supports the Salvation Army throughout the year. With the kettles and the porcelain village, those allow us to help people in the community,” said Ward.
The Kettle Campaign went very well, with the agency raising $64,700 from its eight locations, he continued. The goal was $65,000, but donations were still coming in after the campaign ended, so the organization will likely exceed its total.
The Salvation Army has been helping more people since January 2022, Ward said. The organization started a breakfast program that month and issued 170 bags, and by October, it was handing out 700 breakfast bags.
Ward attributes this need to inflation, the skyrocketing cost of living expenses and the colder-than-usual weather.
“We cannot do what we do in Moose Jaw or elsewhere without those partnerships,” he added. “We want to continue to support the community.”
