Staff
With Christmas less than a month away, the local Salvation Army is preparing to help make the holidays a better time for many district residents.
Lt. Dennis Maybury said the need is even greater this time than last year, as between January and October of this year, the Salvation Army has had to help 51 new families access the food bank and family services.
This is on top of the 800 individuals and families the Salvation Army aided in 2012.
“We’ve had a big increase so we’ve had to ask for more support from the community,” Lt. Maybury noted.
He said those who need their help range from the unemployed, those who are employed but don’t make enough money to buy food for their families, and those with disabilities and addictions.
“We’ve got a number of referrals from other agencies, sending people to us, and we’ve sent no one away with a legitimate need,” Lt. Maybury stressed.
He also noted the need for the Salvation Army food bank is steady year-round, with some months (such as this past August and September) being exceptionally busy.
At this time of year, there are several ways the public can help the Salvation Army help others, including Christmas hampers, the kettle campaign, and food bank donations.
The annual “Adopt-A-Family” and “Sponsor-A-Family” programs are underway, with letters recently being distributed seeking benefactors and supporters to help fill the Christmas hampers.
The programs are designed to assist families whose finances cannot support the added cost Christmas can bring and/or those who are facing some sort of crisis at this time of year.
Lt. Maybury said those who would like to adopt a family will be given a family’s profile at the beginning of December. With this information, they then will put together a complete hamper for the one they’ve adopted.
This will include a minimum of two gifts per child (one large gift around $30 and one small gift around $15), as well as food items.
The food list provided includes everything from a turkey, potatoes, and buns to cereal, cheese, and pasta. It is to be used as a guide to ensure the adopted family has well-balanced meals for at least a week.
Those who would like to take part, but don’t have the time to put together a complete hamper, can choose to participate in the “Sponsor-A-Family” program instead.
In this case, individuals, families, businesses, or other groups can donate the amount of money needed to fill a hamper.
Sponsorship of a “singles” hamper requires a commitment of $150 while that of a “family of four” requires the commitment of $260.
Those interested in participating in either of these programs is urged to contact the Salvation Army at 274-3871 or email salarmy@jam21.net.
Kettle campaign
Another way to support the Salvation Army’s Christmas efforts is through its annual kettle campaign, which kicks off this Friday (Nov. 29).
They will be seeking volunteers to man the kettles from Nov. 29-Dec. 24 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The kettles will be at four permanent locations (Walmart, Safeway, the LCBO, and Canadian Tire), with a kettle at Cloverleaf in Emo and another in Rainy River on weekends.
While the public is urged to donate to the kettles, Lt. Maybury said he also needs more volunteers to ring those bells.
“We’re definitely looking for volunteers,” he stressed, adding all they are asked to do is man a kettle for an hour or two at a time.
“We do have a number of organizations who have committed themselves to doing a whole day,” Lt. Maybury noted.
“If any other organization is willing to volunteer their employees for an hour throughout a day, that would be appreciated.
“Another thing is we would encourage some high school students to come and visit us, particularly on Saturdays,” he added.
“They can do their volunteer hours for us, even between and 4 and 6 p.m. after school.
“That would certainly help us out.”
To volunteer with any of the Salvation Army’s Christmas efforts, call the Citadel at 274-3871.
Finally, an easy and direct way to help others have something to eat this Christmas is to donate non-perishable food items.
People are encouraged to bring along their donations to Santa’s float parked in front of Causeway Insurance during the “Festival of Frost” here this Saturday (Nov. 30).
Residents also can drop off their items prior to that at either Causeway Insurance, the TD Bank, the Royal Bank, or the CIBC.
Community partners also are planning the very successful “Stuff-a-Cruiser” campaign, which will take place here Dec. 14.
Lt. Maybury is hoping residents will be as generous during that drive as they have in the past.
Monetary donations in whatever amount people can afford also are appreciated.
