Salvation Army officials expecting more people than ever will need help this Christmas
GLACE BAY — Officials with Salvation Army believe the need for assistance at Christmas will be greater than ever this year.
Lt. Josh Downer said they currently have 420 applications from individuals, couples and families in the Glace Bay area in need of assistance.
“We are already at the number we had last year and we still have appointments for applications to go,” he said. “So yes, the applications will be up this year.”
Downer said the red kettles for Glace Bay and area have been out full force since Saturday. The goal this year is to raise $45,000. A total of $48,000 was raised last year.
The money is used to assist less fortunate families at Christmas but also for emergency situations in Glace Bay and area throughout the year. Whatever is raised in Glace Bay and area stays in the area.
“There are so many needs in Glace Bay,” Downer said. “We just look at how again we can support people in need in the year to come.”
Sgt.-Maj. Fred Courtney said people of Glace Bay and area always come through for the Salvation Army.
“We raised $10,000 more last year then we did the year before,” said Courtney. “They recognized there is a great need out there and people of this community respond to need.”
However Courtney said people are not only opening their wallets, but also giving of their time.
He said in Glace Bay, the Salvation Army kettle campaign is a community affair.
“All walks of life through the communities of Glace Bay, Port Morien, Donkin and so on, they all volunteer to go on kettles,” he said. “We currently have 150, with more new volunteers we never had before joining every day.
“They want to do something for the people of the community, they want to be part of this.”
Courtney said the strength of the Salvation Army kettle campaign in Glace Bay is recognized.
“With all my travels around and everywhere I go, the topic of conversation is always the kettle campaign in Glace Bay.”
Courtney said the stores also go above and beyond for the Salvation Army.
“We are the only ones there collecting at these stores during the month of December. They have given this to the Salvation Army, everyone of these managers has been so sympathetic.”
The kettles will be in place in Glace Bay until Christmas Eve at various locations including Foodland, the Atlantic Superstore, Sobeys, Glace Bay liquor store, Canadian Tire and the Sterling Mall.