Less volunteers manned Salvation Army kettles last Christmas but those who did worked more shifts. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

generosity

Parksville Salvation Army exceeds Christmas Kettle campaign goal

Jan 13, 2021 | 5:31 AM

PARKSVILLE — Supporters turned out in droves for the Salvation Army in the Oceanside region.

Bonnie Brown with the Parksville Salvation Army said their annual Christmas campaign raised $62,000 more than their goal, split between the Kettle and Christmas Letter Appeal campaigns.

“We’re absolutely amazed,” Brown told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We’re so thankful for the generosity of our community, which we see time and time again, even more-so in the last year.”

The money will help fund Salvation Army programs throughout Oceanside.

Brown said she believed their agency’s high visibility in the community helped boost donations during a difficult year.

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“Everyone knows about the food bank and soup kitchen. We are out there in the community and active without fail, without stops since COVID started.”

She said the food bank feeds 500 people monthly and the soup kitchen provides hot meals to upwards of 150 four times a week.

Understandably, many volunteers stayed home and didn’t staff the kettles throughout the community.

Brown said the volunteers who did show up often worked more shifts than usual.

“They were very happy to be out there. Our volunteers really came through for us.”

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