Central Okanagan Kettle Campaign kicks off

KELOWNA – The bells are ringing and the kettles are starting to fill up. It’s that time of year when you’ll see Salvation Army Kettle Campaign volunteers greeting you at a variety of locations across the Okanagan.

“I don’t know if it’s because of what’s happening around the world but people are very generous,” says Nicholas Morin, who has been volunteering as a kettle bell ringer for more than five years in Kelowna.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I don't know if it's because of what's happening around the world but people are very generous," says Nicholas Morin, who has been volunteering as a kettle bell ringer for more than five years in Kelowna.

Just hours into the launch of the annual campaign in Kelowna Friday morning, donations of various forms started to flow in, from monetary to physical gifts for the Sally Ann’s annual Christmas hampers.

“There is always someone in need and I’m sure at some point everybody has been down in the dumps, so it’s always good to help,” says Kelowna resident Denise Timmerman who donated gifts for the hampers.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There is always someone in need and I'm sure at some point everybody has been down in the dumps, so it's always good to help," says Kelowna resident Denise Timmerman who donated gifts for the hampers.

The holiday season is the busiest time of the year for the Sally Ann. The funds raised help finance the Salvation Army’s work year-round.

“We were able to continue to provide emergency food support to individuals in need, vouchers to our thrift stores for individuals who needed clothing, household items, furniture,” says Darryl Burry, Lead Pastor and Executive Director of the Central Okanagan Salvation Army.

The non-profit also use the funds to support local firefighters during their busiest season battling wildfires.

“Whether it be providing food support for emergency personnel or working with those who have been evacuated, so this has been an abnormally large summer but usually every summer there is some level engagement,” says Burry.

The Central Okanagan branch hopes to raise $700,000 through this year’s campaign.

Along with all of the generous donors, all Sally Ann branches agree, they couldn’t do what they do without their dedicated volunteers.

The Vernon and Penticton branches will hold their campaign kick off on Saturday. The West Kelowna campaign launch was on Thursday.