It’s the last week for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign.
It’s Christmas time in Ridge Meadows, and for most of us this means running around to stores and family gatherings to make the holiday season perfect for those we love.
At the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows, the same holds true – only they’re making Christmas perfect for those who need a helping hand.
The annual Red Kettle campaign began last month on Nov. 14 and has been in full swing since, raising funds for vulnerable families and individuals in the community. This year’s fundraising goal is $125,000, however with only two weeks left in the campaign it had raised less than half of that. So the last push before Christmas Eve is critical.
“The programs we run and the families we serve depend on these funds,” said Julie Gilfillan, executive director of The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows.
“We’re sending kids to camp, providing food hampers for families in emergencies and providing school lunches to kids who need them – all with donations from the community. Without adequate funding, we’ll have to look at our programs and the number of people we serve going forward.”
The impact the Salvation Army’s programs have on people is expansive and can last a lifetime. One such person is Kevin, who lives in Mission but volunteers every weekend – four hours a day – at Christmas Kettles in Ridge Meadows.
As a child, Kevin’s family was involved with the local Lions Club, and he enjoyed the volunteering he did with them. In his teenage years, Kevin struggled with addiction and found himself on the Downtown Eastside, mixed up with the “wrong crowd.” But by the age of 17, he felt fed up with that life, and met some folks from The Salvation Army doing outreach. He was hungry and looking for a change and “the rest,” as Kevin says, “is history.”
The value of service is what Kevin learned most coming out of addiction and into adulthood. Rooted in his early years and his faith, Kevin now volunteers all over the Lower Mainland with various charities who are there to serve others and help them get back on their feet.
And so, while numbers here in Ridge Meadows may look a little low today, The Salvation Army is confident that with people like Kevin ringing the kettle bells, the community will step up.
“When you’re out shopping this weekend,” says Gilfillan, “look for our kettles, listen for the bells. Look for our tap machine or donate cheques or cash. We appreciate anything the community can do to support us and the people we serve – people like Kevin.”
If you’d like to sign up for a kettle shift over the next 10 days, please reach out to Lea at lea.ardelean@salvationarmy.ca. You can also donate at a kettle or online at www.ridgemeadowssa.ca or in person at the Community and Family Services office at 23315 Dewdney Trunk Rd.
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