The Chatham-Kent Salvation Army is there for people when they are down, and the agency has seen the community’s also there for it during challenging times.
Content article
The Chatham-Kent Salvation Army is there for people when they are down, and the agency has seen the community’s also there for it during challenging times.
Content article
For the second year of running its annual Christmas appeal during a pandemic, the Salvation Army has reached its fundraising goal.
“We’ve had some good donors and we’ve reached our goal of $ 500,000,” said Capt. Stephan Holland.
He believes the pandemic has helped inspire some extra donations because people realize there is a greater – and growing – need.
“We did almost $ 600,000 last year,” Holland noted. “That was the biggest year we’ve ever had.
“We needed it for sure, because a lot of people are in need. This year, there’s even greater need. ”
The Salvation Army’s signature red kettles have been put away in Wallaceburg and will be packed up around 1 pm on Friday in Chatham.
Holland said about $ 140,000 has been collected through the kettles. He noted the bulk of the funds the Salvation Army raises are through mail-in donations.
The only concern about going through another Christmas season during a pandemic was the possibility they wouldn’t be able to put kettles out into the community.
Although there were fewer kettles allowed in various locations this year, that didn’t seem to slow donations.
“The community has always been so generous to us and they trust us with their donation that we’re going to use it the correct way,” Holland said.
He said the agency takes whatever amount of money is raised and uses “it to the best of our ability.”
Holland said about 1,600 people, which includes a mix of children and parents, along with single men and women, have received food and toys for Christmas.
This was 100 more people than last year, he said, adding about 650 toys bags were delivered.
“We had a lot to do.”
Holland said Wallaceburg had the greatest need for toys this year, noting they spent some money to ensure there were enough presents to go around.
“It’s all done and all distributed.”