Christmas campaigns begin at Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is launching a series of campaigns to assist people in Peterborough during the holiday season.
Hope for All Seasons is the Salvation Army’s way of encouraging community members to help out and provide everyone with a happy holiday. The need for quality food and financial support is great in the community, the organization states.
In this area, more than 20 per cent of children under the age of six live in poverty and 8,000 people experience a shortage of quality food in their homes.
Locally, the Salvation Army served 7,500 breakfasts, provided 2,220 children with new toys and gave more than 6,500 individuals food hampers in 2016 alone. This year, the Salvation Army has its hopes set on $440,000 worth of donations.
To be a part of this year’s season of giving, the Salvation Army encourages citizens to support the Christmas Kettle, participate in this year’s Running Room Santa Shuffle, collect food donations and attend the Petes Teddy Toss.
There is a great urgency for food during the holiday season. The Christmas Hamper, organized by the Salvation Army, helps the 6,500 individuals in need. Contributions com from FreshCo on Brock St., S&S Clifford Distributors, General Electric, Siemens and Quaker Oats, with items transported by Winslow Trucking and Pepsico.
Community groups and service clubs also collect donations.
Volunteers then turn the donations into food hampers to be packed up and delivered to hungry households all over Peterborough on Dec. 16.
For more than 100 years, the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign has been collecting donations to support local families. It’s the Salvation Army’s largest fundraising campaign, raising a total of more than $23.5 million dollars last year, nationwide.
The money raised in Peterborough goes directly back out into the community. It is used to purchase hygiene products, food and basic assistance. The money also supports helpful and accessible programs in Peterborough such as grief counselling, social assistance, camping programs and many others.
On Nov. 24, the kettles will be making their first appearance of the year at Costco, Walmart, Lansdowne Place, Your Independent Grocer and various LCBO locations.
To ensure that “no family is left behind” on Christmas morning, the Salvation Army is also running a toy drive.
Volunteers will be collecting new and unwrapped toys at the Santa Claus parade, the Lansdowne Place mall, business spaces, local schools and the Teddy Toss at the Petes’ game.
Students from high schools, colleges and universities assist in unloading and sorting the toys. Firefighters then come and transport the toys from the Salvation Army to the Armories where a Christmas Wonderland is set up.
The Santa Shuffle is a 5K run that has raised more than $2 million for the Salvation Army. The race this year begins on Dec. 2, and starts at 10 a.m. at Auburn Bible Chapel. All money is raised through pledges and the prizes will be given out to those who raise over 50 dollars. Pledge forms and registration is at santashuffle.ca or at the Running Room on Hunter St. W.
Last year, there were more than 340 participants and $13,000 raised.
To participate and show your support for any of the fundraising events hosted by the Salvation Army, contact call 705-7424391.