Preparations are currently being finalized and volunteers organized for the 2021 Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign, which is set to officially kick off this Monday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. at Superstore.
Kettles will also be found in Walmart, the Town ‘N’ Country Mall, Safeway, Co-op and Liquor Board Store as well as a counter-top kettle at the Sobey’s Liquor location.
Now the important part -- finding enough volunteers to cover all the stations.
“Volunteers are calling in and signing up, but we still have lots of opportunities for kettle volunteers to help out and we’d very much appreciate if others would be able to assist in any way,” said Lt. Lester Ward with Salvation Army Moose Jaw. “The more kettles we have out, the more assistance we can provide to people in Moose Jaw and surrounding area that might be in need of food, clothing and toys, anything like that.”
Volunteers sign up for three-hour shifts, with the kettles running from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day. There are still plenty of spots available, reports Ward, and the more the merrier.
“Our telephone is ringing and our scheduling is changing on a regular basis, but it looks right now that we still could use up to 50 volunteers,” Ward said. “No two days are alike, we always like to have someone available and ready. There could be a day where someone can’t make it and we need to get someone in as quickly as possible, and the more volunteers we have the easier that is.”
Folks who watch over the kettles can rest assured their efforts are going to an extremely good cause. All donations stay in Moose Jaw and area and go to support the many Christmas-and-beyond Salvation Army ventures.
“They go to hampers for families for Christmas for those who are going without, or they might go to purchase extra toys if there’s a need for extra toys, or maybe even clothing if that’s what a family needs,” Ward explained.
“And it’s not just the Christmas season, the needs of our community aren’t necessarily a once-a-year event. There are always needs that need to be met, there’s always a need for food and a need for clothing, so these donations that we receive will support different needs of families who are struggling during the Christmas season and into the new year.”
While overall donations were down a touch last year as the pandemic figured into things, Ward is hoping to see a bit of a rebound in their totals this year.
“We’re hoping that with COVID vaccinations people will be around a little more and that the kettle donations will increase and bounce back to what they would be in previous years,” he said. “Every bit helps, there’s no little that’s too little, and it all goes to help someone out who otherwise might go without.”
For more information on the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheSalvationArmyInMooseJaw and to volunteer, call their office at (306) 692-5899 for all the particulars.
