Heather Latter
The Christmas season once again was deemed a success by the local Salvation Army, which aims to help out families during the holidays.
“Overall it was a huge success,” enthused Lt. Ryan MacDonald while also noting it was a very busy time of year.
The Salvation Army initiates the Christmas kettle campaign for people to donate financially during the holiday season, as well as the “Adopt-a-Family” program to provide Christmas hampers and toys to those in need.
“We hit our goals,” Lt. MacDonald lauded.
He said the community was particularly giving of toys this season through The Bargain Shop’s toy drive, 93.1 The Border’s “Burst a Bus” initiative, the “Stuff-a-Cruiser” campaign, as well as may other individual donations.
The Salvation Army also was in charge of organizing the annual “Stuff-a-Cruiser” campaign this past year, when together the community stuffed 33 cruisers, with items to support the Sunset Country Métis, United Native Friendship Centre, the local Salvation Army, the food banks in Emo and Rainy River, and the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau (for its annual community Christmas dinner).
“The community is amazing,” Lt. MacDonald remarked. “You ask for something and there are a million hands reaching out.”
He said he wants to thank everyone for their contributions over the Christmas season.
“Thank you for thinking about us during this time of year considering all the other activity with charitable donations in and around—even Canada-wide,” Lt. MacDonald noted.
“I was very happy to see us hitting our goals.
“But it wasn’t just about the financial contributions alone, but a lot of individual efforts regarding extra toys and extra food,” he added, saying they’re thrilled that their food bank currently is well-stocked.
“We’ve got a long-lasting supply, that’s for sure,” he enthused.
“We’re stocked up until at least May, maybe June.”
After a successful 2014 Christmas season that blew Lt. MacDonald away with the generosity of the community, 2015 certainly lived up to the expectation.
“We got a touch more this year,” he replied when asked how the two years compared.
“That’s the best way to describe it.
“Words cannot capture how thankful we are,” he reiterated, adding he’s so grateful that the community continued to think about the Salvation Army, as well as other similar organizations such as the UNFC and Sunset Country Métis.
Thanks to all the contributions, Lt. MacDonald said the Salvation Army was able to help more than 400 local families over the Christmas season.
“It is only because of your tremendous support that this was made possible,” he stressed.
“Considering our new building, we needed a successful year because we need money for that new spot,” Lt. MacDonald noted, referring to the Salvation Army’s purchase of the former Movie Gallery on Scott Street, which will replace its aging property on Victoria Avenue.
“We were counting on the community to do what they’ve always done to provide us a smooth transition into the new year—and they did just that,” he enthused.
“We’re looking forward to the year ahead with possibilities and new opportunities with the new building.”
Lt. MacDonald said work on the space will begin soon.
The Scott Street location is expected to provide growth to the Thrift Store, worship space, and family services.
“We’re finalizing some details and then hopefully within a couple months, we will start gutting,” he noted.
“It won’t take too long once you’ve got all hands on deck.”
The Salvation Army expects to be in its new building by this coming Christmas.
“We’re thinking this is our last Christmas here [at the old site], which is surreal,” Lt. MacDonald remarked.
“We’ve got a great team and we’re excited for the possibilities to come.”
He added the Town of Fort Frances has been so supportive in everything the Salvation Army requested.
“We’re just excited,” he stressed. “It’s going to be a good year.”
Lt. MacDonald said he’s already seen much growth within the congregation since he arrived a year-and-a-half ago.
“We’ve got lots of programs, new worship teams, and more donors,” he noted.
“It’s not just me developing programs throughout our church, it’s people doing what they are called to be doing, which is a blessing to watch,” he added.
“We’re on track to building a better Salvation Army here in Fort Frances.”
