The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign kicks off on Tuesday and the organizers are still in search of volunteers to help staff the kettles.
The Salvation Army runs their Kettle campaign annually in November and December to help raise funds to support their community work and programs throughout the rest of the year.
The campaign is driven by the dedicated volunteers that come out to support the cause.
Linda Laursen, who has been volunteering on the campaign for seven years, said she looks forward to the event every year.
“It just gives you such a good feeling,” Laursen said.
“It’s the most beautiful experience you can ever have.”
One of the things she and other volunteers love about the experience is seeing the generosity of their community.
“Even when people come in that don’t have much money, they give a dollar or change. I find that people that don’t have so much are so willing to give, more than the people that can afford to do it. I just find that’s the greatest thing.”
On top of seeing the spirit of Christmas giving first-hand, Laursen said she loves hearing from people about their experiences with the Salvation Army.
“You hear some of the most heartbreaking stories and the most wonderful stories,” Linda said.
Laursen said they often hear from people who say the Salvation Army helped them during a difficult time in their life and now they are giving back to the organization that was there for them in their time of need.
Crystal Hanson, one of the volunteer co-ordinators, said the group is still looking to recruit volunteers to collect donations. Volunteers can sign up for two-hour shifts running from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day except Sunday, until Dec. 24.
She said the only qualification people need is the will to help and support their community.
Hanson said many of the volunteers are people who have been helped in the past by the Salvation Army and want to give back.
Hanson said on top of recruiting volunteers, they are looking for businesses to adopt a kettle. Businesses keep the kettle for a day and staff it with their own volunteers from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
To volunteer, please call Kelly, Crystal or Diane at 587-334-3892 or email [email protected]
Once you are signed up for a shift, you just need to show up to your designated location in the city where the kettles will already be set up for you.
The volunteers collect coins, bills and take Visa, MasterCard and Interac transactions.
Along with looking for help collecting the money, volunteers are needed to help count the money the next morning.
