Need ‘unprecedented:' Salvation Army
Requests for help reach Second World War high
Grace Caldi jingles a bright red bell and smiles as she greets passersby.
Masked up, she's sitting next to a red kettle near the exit of Mike's No Frills in Spryfield — one of more than 200 locations in the Maritimes hosting The Salvation Army's kettle campaign from now until Christmas Eve.
Funds raised through donations made at Christmas kettles, along with other sources of funds, help provide food, clothing and shelter for the “most vulnerable people in our communities,” according to Maj. Jamie Locke of The Salvation Army.
The annual campaign, now in its 130th year, kicked off in the Halifax Regional Municipality on Thursday.
It's Caldi's fourth year jingling a bell to raise money as part of the campaign, but this year, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she says it's more important than ever to do her part to support her community.
“Many, many, many people, they don't work, they lost their jobs. You know, my son lost his job,” Caldi said in an interview Thursday. “There is lots of need.” Locke agreed.
He said The Salvation Army has seen an “unprecedented” amount of people reaching out for assistance this year,
with an increased need at the organization's food banks and shelters throughout the Maritimes.
A phrase Locke said he's hearing a lot this year is, “I've never had to do this before.”
“We're seeing such an increase in demand for services that we're only able to compare it to the activities of The Salvation Army in the days following World War Two,” he said.
“And so we've been mobilizing our resources and trying to be adaptable in what we're doing to meet the needs that are in the communities that are around us. ”
For the first time ever, Locke said volunteers set up at kettle locations will be wearing masks and regularly sanitizing kettles.
And at most kettle locations, he said people can also donate electronically — with the tap of a debit or credit card.
Locke said he encourages people to consider making a donation to The Salvation Army, as funds will “stay right there in your community, supporting the needs
around you.”
In addition to making donations in person, people can also donate to the 2020 Christmas Kettle Campaign online at fillthekettle.com, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY and via mail to The Salvation Army, 330 Herring Cove Rd, Halifax, N.S., B3R 1V4.
People can also visit salvationarmy.ca/maritime to support the work of The Salvation Army.
With the funds raised, Locke said The Salvation Army will not only be able to provide food, clothing and shelter for community members, but also toys for children
on Christmas morning.
“While the toy may not be an immediate need, we do feel that it is an offering of hope during a very difficult time and during Christmas, when it's supposed to be a joyful season for families to share together,” he added.
Despite this year being rough for many, Locke and Caldi said a lot of Maritimers have already chosen to give back this holiday season.
“No matter what, life will go on. There's lots of nice people around and they say, ‘Thank you,' ‘God bless you,' and it's good to see people actually care,” said Caldi.