Canadian Tire gives Salvation Army big boost

While the local Salvation Army had reported in Wednesday’s Times that donations were down so far this Christmas season, the cause is getting a $6,000 boost thanks to Canadian Tire here.
“It’s absolutely great to give back to the community like this,” said Kevin Thiessen, general manager of the local store.
“It’s a joint effort between us and the corporation. The beauty of the thing is we raise money all year long and then they don’t match it, they double it,” he added.
He also noted the staff and customers alike should be thanked for contributing to the corporation’s “Foundation for Families.”
“It’s a very generous donation from the ‘Foundation for Families,’” said Capt. Eric Alcock of the Fort Frances Salvation Army.
“This is an extremely generous contribution. It certainly brings up our donation total to where it should be,” he added.
While the money is intended to be used to continue aiding local families throughout the year, Capt. Alcock noted the Foundation is flexible as to how the funds are spent and so some will be used for food and toys for this year’s Christmas campaign.
Meanwhile, the Salvation Army will be putting together Christmas hampers tomorrow at 336 Scott St. (next to Border Travel).
“We have a team of high school students put together from the Citadel so it will be a busy place,” said Capt. Alcock, who noted they’ll be giving out 265-70 hampers this year—a total slightly higher than the past couple of years.
Those who applied for hampers can pick them up at 336 Scott St. next Thursday and Friday (Dec. 19-20).
These hampers also will include about 270 pairs of new mittens and gloves donated by In-Focus Photography, which collected them at the store with its “Mittens for Kids” promotion.
And in an effort to collect toys for local children, CFOB is sponsoring a “Teddy Bear Toss” at tomorrow night’s Borderland Thunder game at the Ice for Kids Arena.
Those attending are encouraged to bring along a stuffed animal and then when the Thunder score their first goal, throw their bears on the ice so volunteers can collect them.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m.
In related news, the Christmas kettle program will continue today, tomorrow, and again Dec. 19-22 and 24. Capt. Alcock noted the campaign has been off to a “slow start.”
“But today and tomorrow, we’ll have five and four kettles out there. This is the end of our first full week when things traditionally start to pick up,” he remarked.