By Daryl Major

Nanaimo Christmas Kettle Campaign has big impact on community

Nov 17, 2016 | 12:54 PM

NANAIMO – The Nanaimo Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser of the year is officially underway.

The bells will be jingling as the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign kicks off. Envoy Dawne Anderson says they were able to surpass their fund raising goal last year.

“Our target was $200,000 and we raised $215,000,” said Anderson. “It helped greatly in the community with our emergency food hampers, with our Christmas hampers. With our meal program that serves 90,000 meals a year, in our shelter. It’s used greatly in the community here.”

Given the struggles some people are going through this year, Anderson anticipates the need for their services will be up.

“I think it increases, especially the Christmas hampers. That has been increasing,” said Anderson. “Last year it was over 2,100 hampers, which is over 4,000 people, that were assisted. And I think with the economy I think it is going to increase this year.”

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Over the next few weeks, the kettles will be seen at locations around Nanaimo. Anderson says they need a lot of people to make the campaign a success.

“We have over 8,300 hours of kettles to fill,” she said. “We have 27 locations with 4 shifts a day. The shifts are only two-and-a-half hours in length. So it’s a great time to get out by yourself or with a friend or with a company and serve the community.”

To volunteer for the campaign, by either manning a kettle or helping put together hampers, call Anderson at 250-740-1004.