For residents in Tillsonburg, Ont., one dedicated volunteer has become synonymous with the holiday season.
Bill Oliver has been part of the Salvation Army kettle campaign since 1939, when he was just nine years old. He’s now 86, and many look forward to seeing him every year.
“We actually have had people say when Bill has not been on the [Christmas] kettle, they will come back when Bill is here to put their money in,” said Donna Acre, Salvation Army’s community ministries coordinator.
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For decades, Oliver stood outdoors collecting donations, only stopping once when a heart condition forced him to take a year off.
Recently, he’s moved indoors at the local mall, but he still stands smiling next to the collection kettle, chatting and laughing with shoppers for five hours a day, six days a week.
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Oliver said he never tires from the job, knowing that he’s helping people in need.
“I love every minute of it,” Oliver told Global News. “I enjoy meeting the people and helping others who need it.”
The Salvation Army runs its Christmas Kettle Campaign from 2,000 locations across the country every year. Collected funds help close to 1.9 million Canadians in need of food, clothing and with social services.
Tillsonburg is about 60 kilometres east of London, Ont.
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