The Salvation Army in Fort Frances has kicked off its kettle campaign.
It will run through December 22.
Auxiliary Captain Arthur Heathcote says new this year is a tap feature for those who don’t carry cash.
“We’ve made it very easy for them to be able to donate just through a tappable unit right on the machine. In the event that we don’t have a volunteer standing at the kettle, they’re still able to donate through the top mechanism,” says Heathcote.
The kettles this year are located at Walmart, the Place and Safeway in Fort Frances, Cloverleaf Grocery in Emo and Beaver Mills Market in Rainy River.
Money collected helps the Salvation Army maintain its many programs and services.
Heathcote says they are always looking for volunteers to oversee the kettles.
“We need those volunteers this year, so if anyone would like to give a minimum of two hours of their time for the next few weeks, it can just be two hours. They can give us a call,” says Heathcote.
The mayor of Fort Frances sees the need to help the Salvation Army as being as urgent as it has ever been.
June Caul made the first donation to kick off the campaign.
She says there are a lot of people are in need this Christmas season.
“This is going to be the second Christmas now where people still often don’t have jobs, things aren’t back to normal, things are going to be difficult all the way around for people, not only to get gifts for their children but food for their bodies,” says Caul.
Caul says if it wasn’t for the Salvation Army, there would be a lot of people in even worst dire straits.
