Following father’s footsteps by manning Christmas kettle
St. John’s man continues family tradition of giving back
Offering people a chance to be happy during one of the toughest times of the year fits right in with Larry Wiseman’s personality.
It is also the mantra of the Salvation Army and its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign.
For 127 years, they have quietly gone about the business of helping individuals and families with the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing and shelter.
In 2016, the Salvation Army helped more than 1.9 million people across Canada.
This year, because it is a way to connect with his late father, Ross — and also give back to a community that has been so good to him — Wiseman decided to be part of what has been a family tradition for more than 50 years.
Wiseman said he struggled with the grief of losing his dad, as many do, but he knew that from all the places he had been and the things he had seen in his life, he was destined to do something to help others.
Ross was a quiet, private man, traits his son has acquired over the years. But he handed down to his son the trait of wanting to help others and trying to make the world a bit brighter for everyone in it.
“It is just the proper thing to do. Everyone should be a good citizen and if you can help … you should,” Wiseman said.
His mother’s faith and life in the Salvation Army church helped convince Ross that he could help out as well.
“She was always involved in the kettle and volunteering for many things during her time in the church. In fact, she is still volunteering in Nova Scotia.”
Wiseman said he and his wife went back to Little Bay Islands a few years ago to get a feel for what life was like for his dad, and he realized how hard it was growing up there.
As he has always done, he set out on a path to try to find a way to help anyone he could.
“My dad grew up in Little Bay Islands and was very poor. He didn’t let that stop him, though, as he worked hard to get out of that, and by getting involved with the kettle campaign, it was his way of giving back to those who are not as lucky,” Wiseman said.
“So in honour of him, and in my own way of dealing with the grief of his loss, I decided this is something I need and want to do.”
The Christmas Kettle Campaign enables local Salvation Army units in 400 communities and more than 2,000 locations across Canada to help individuals and families with the basic necessities.
“We are doing something at my work (food and beverage manager at The Guv’nor Inn) as well. It needs to be done. There are all kinds of things out there to support and I believe that everyone should support something. That is why I do this.”
Contributions to the Kettle Campaign also allow the Salvation Army to continue operating its life-changing programs, such as substance abuse recovery, housing supports, job and skills training, and budgeting and education classes, which help people find a way out of poverty, permanently.
Every donation to a Christmas kettle remains in the community in which it was given, in order to help local people in need.
The public can also donate to the kettle campaign online at
fillthekettle.com.
“If Dad were here now, he would say, ‘Go home out of it.’ You didn’t live like we did, you’ve
had a good life,” he said, a wry grin creeping across his face.
But he says his father would be proud of what he is doing,
with the kettle and other ventures.