Penguins a new twist on Christmas display
Kelowna family collecting donations for Salvation Army’s kettle campaign
Nothing says Christmas like . . . penguins?
The creatures may be more commonly associated with the South Pole than the top-of-the-globe workshop where Santa makes his toys.
But they still make for an impressive seasonal decoration on the lawn of a Kelowna family, which is collecting donations for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign.
“There must be close to 100 penguins out there, from three feet high down to some very small ones,” homeowner Ken Berry said Sunday.
Over 14 years, Ken and his wife Julia raised more than $23,000 for a child development centre in Williams Lake with a similar penguin-themed Christmas display.
When they moved to Kelowna, Ken sold off all his penguins. But he later realized he missed seeing people come by to admire the display, and raising money for a good cause.
“I went around to thrift stores and re-energized the collection,” said Ken, a former elementary school principal. “I really like Christmas, but I realize it would be a bit foolish to put up such an elaborate display like this without attaching a good cause to it.”
The penguins that Ken and his wife Julia have set on their lawn string up Christmas lights, with more enthusiasm than skill, pack presents for Santa, fish in a pool, and sing and dance.
Their home is at 875 Theodora Rd. in Rutland.
“It is the quintessential Christmas display — perfect for families to enjoy,” says Patty Lou Bryant of the Salvation Army of the Central Okanagan. “And the donations make an immediate impact in the community.”