Kettle program $26,000 short of goal
With just a short time to go in its Christmas kettle campaign, the Salvation Army in Whitehorse is facing a volunteer shortage.
With just a short time to go in its Christmas kettle campaign, the Salvation Army in Whitehorse is facing a volunteer shortage.
So far, it has only raised less than half of its $60,000 goal.
Eighty-six shifts needed to be filled between Tuesday and Christmas Eve, when the campaign ends, to ensure every kettle available is out collecting the much-needed donations.
“Our kettle campaign is unfortunately quite far behind of where we were hoping to be at this point,” said Lt. Rebecca Pretty, the Whitehorse Salvation Army officer.
“Having our kettles shifts fully covered would go a long way to reaching our goal.”
While a staffed kettle can attract several hundred dollars during a shift, she said, an unstaffed one can take in only $20 over several hours.
The Salvation Army is asking for the public’s help and to sign up and ring the bells at a kettle for at two-hour shift by calling 393-8320.
“If you can’t spare two hours, maybe you can spare a few dollars into the kettle?” Pretty said.
“The people in Whitehorse are so giving and generous; any amount donated, every shift filled, gets us closer to our goal and helping our most vulnerable.
“We want this to be a Merry Christmas for everyone.”
The $60,000 they hope to raise will stay local and provide practical programs to vulnerable people and families, with food hampers, basic hygiene needs, winter care kits and more – all year long, not just at Christmas.
Comments (6)
Up 2 Down 0
Roy on Dec 31, 2022 at 4:04 pm
@ YD
You have the internet - research Salvation Army controversy and see what you find. It's not ancient history. It's not a few bad apples. It's endemic and longstanding.
A random bad comment from someone in the organization can be forgiven. Decades of discrimination and backtracking is another thing entirely. Don't insult out intelligence with denial - when it looks like a homophobe and quacks like a homophobe.....
And even if the organization didn't have a long history of discrimination most members of society don't want their charity donations laced with religious teaching. "More Canadians than ever have no religious affiliation, census shows"
You can single me out and ignore the other comments saying the same thing. You can pretend it's inflation and the economy that has the donation amount falling short. But in my opinion the Salvation Army better get used to doing more with less - the writing is on the wall.
"You reap what you sow" is from the bible yeah?
Up 3 Down 3
YD on Dec 29, 2022 at 10:26 am
Roy, your comment is incongruent. You indicated that you want to eliminate the middle man (ie. the Salvation Army, which is a charitable organization), and then you go on to suggest that people can donate to other charities (ie. other middle mans) online.
The Salvation Army doesn't check to see if people are "deserving". They also don't check to see if people hold the same belief systems as them. They serve and assist the vulnerable, deserving or not, Christian or not.
"The $60,000 they hope to raise will stay local and provide practical programs to vulnerable people and families, with food hampers, basic hygiene needs, winter care kits and more – all year long, not just at Christmas."
I'm having trouble understanding why you take such offence to this organization.
Up 20 Down 2
Sorry on Dec 21, 2022 at 7:58 pm
I have enough trouble maintaining my own life these days. I can’t afford to support others. Sorry.
Up 17 Down 3
Thomas Brewer on Dec 21, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Not a lot of sympathy for this organisation any longer in town. Perhaps it's time to shutter it.
Up 17 Down 3
Survey says on Dec 21, 2022 at 3:42 pm
The community is clearly registering its sentiment toward what the Sally Ann has done to the city. Hint: it’s not very Christian.
Up 15 Down 4
Roy on Dec 21, 2022 at 2:50 pm
I prefer not having my charity donations pass through an unnecessary middleman - especially one who layers their actions with their own beliefs about who is deserving.
It's 2022. You can donate to charities directly online for free. Why would we want someone standing by the Canadian Tire checkout trying to guilt us into supporting their backwards, outdated view of the world? I bet no one has a good answer.
Gotta wonder why the Star keeps repeatedly posting articles about the Salvation Army's attempts to remain relevant. How about instead we see this struggle as a sign that society has spoken.