The Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign says its donations are down $47,000 compared to 2015.
Lieutenant Colonel Larry Martin, with the Salvation Army, said they would need a 60 per cent increase in donations to provide services year round.
“We are trying to strategize and see how we will meet that need going forward. This time of year is an important time for us to raise essential funds to meet those growing needs,” Lt. Martin said.
“It’s for programs that run throughout the year, like helping with the food bank, emergency food supplies, it’s helping with the wide range of needs that people present to us and we’re trying to help them increase their skill level so that they can find other work or change their work so they cannot be in the same position of need.
“There are more people who are struggling to make ends meet, particularly with the downturn in the economy where more people are unemployed. The unemployment rate in Calgary right now is about 10.2 per cent, that’s a lot of people not working who are willing and ready to work but work is not available,” Lt. Martin said.
The Kettle Campaign is also in dire need of volunteers to ring bells at kettle stands. The Salvation Army says 43 per cent of the available shifts have not been filled yet heading into the final week of the campaign.
“We love to have people if they have an hour or a couple of hours, two to three hours that they could come and ring a kettle for us at various locations throughout the city,” Lt. Martin said.
Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson volunteered at a kettle stand Saturday at Southcentre Mall and says it’s important to get out and make sure you get people in the holiday spirit.
“There’s a lot of very caring people in Calgary. I feel like the Calgary Stampeders organization and myself need to get out and we appreciate all the support and the generosity our fans give us,” Dickenson said. “I think it’s important for us to give back, because sometimes the holidays can be stressful when they don’t have anything. It’s important for those of us who have good fortune and we have something to give, to get out and make sure we do it.
“We also love the city and we want to make Calgary the best city possible,” Dickenson said.
Kettle stands are located throughout various shopping malls around Calgary, Cochrane and Airdrie. Donations can be made online as well.
Canada’s first kettle was used in Toronto in 1903. Today, the familiar kettles and kettle workers (or “bell ringers”) are seen in more than 2,000 locations across the country.
The funds raised in the kettle program go towards service and supports that the Salvation Army provides throughout the year, including a wide variety of programs for families and children and people who are homeless. There’s also programs for people who are struggling with poverty and for those who are trying to learn the skills they need to get out of poverty.
With files from Carolyn Kury de Castillo
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