Photo by Whitehorse Star
HELPING HANDS – David Beloud helps Jorja Smarch donate to the Salvation Army kettle drive in December 2012 at the local Canadian Tire store. A shortened version of the drive took place this year.
Salvation Army scaled back its efforts
Yukoners may have noticed a sparsity in Salvation Army kettle bell ringers this Christmas season, as the organization scaled back fundraising efforts in Whitehorse.
Yukoners may have noticed a sparsity in Salvation Army kettle bell ringers this Christmas season, as the organization scaled back fundraising efforts in Whitehorse.
“We don’t operate the shelter any longer, so as a result, we didn’t think we needed to have our campaign run for quite as long,” Al Hoeft, the Salvation Army divisional secretary for public relations, told the Star on Monday afternoon.
Heft said a team of 75 volunteers raised almost $20,000 this year.
In previous years, the campaign has raised much more.
Last Christmas, when the campaign was at full steam, it raised about $72,000 of the stated goal of $80,000. It partially attributed the shortfall to its team of volunteers growing older and being unable to do lengthy kettle shifts.
Now that the Salvation Army doesn’t operate the downtown shelter for the homeless, the organization is looking to provide support to the community with the funds in other ways, Hoeft said.
These services are provided through the Salvation Army church in Whitehorse.
Hoeft said the funds raised this year went toward a free Christmas dinner last Friday for 120 Yukoners.
The money will also fund the “walk-in” support that the Salvation Army church provides.
Hoeft said the church has, in the past, provided support to people in need of food or funds in emergency situations.
“We’re not really trying to say that we’re doing these things, we’re not trying to take the place of the food bank or anything like that,” Hoeft said.
“There are people who fall through the cracks in the community, and we try to make sure we’re available.”
Despite the closure of the Salvation Army shelter, Hoeft said the organization is working to maintain a presence in the community. The scaled down campaign was intended to ensure all momentum is not lost.
“We’re continuing to look to find ways to ensure we remain a part of a vibrant community,” Hoeft said.
“It’s another safety net where people can turn.”
The Salvation Army, a Christian charitable organization, has operated the Christmas Kettle campaign since 1891.
It originated in San Francisco, when Capt. Joseph McFee copied the idea of a “Simpson’s pot” –– a large pot used in Liverpool, England to collect charitable donations.
The Sally Ann’s operations in the community were also scaled back when it closed its thrift store on Fourth Avenue in April 2017.
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Comments (10)
Up 0 Down 0
A. Lowe-Barriere on Jan 2, 2020 at 4:44 pm
@ Guncache - I’ll meet you there for the all you can eat shrimp and crab buffet Thursday’s. I understand you have to bring your own wine though. I was thinking of an unpretentious, sweet, white wine - perhaps a Pacific Rim Riesling.
Up 3 Down 0
Guncache on Dec 30, 2019 at 5:04 pm
I'm a taxpayer and since it's taxpayer money running the ex SA kitchen, now the YG kitchen, I think I'll pop down once in a while for a meal.
Up 24 Down 7
drum on Dec 27, 2019 at 7:05 pm
The Salvation Army did a wonderful job in this City taking care of the homeless. Now that the Homeless Shelter is run by the YG on our taxpayers dollars (there is no Government money, it is all taxpayers money that funds anything) I would like to know how much of our Taxpayers money goes every day to running that facility and how many programs are being run as well as how many of the residential rooms are being used - or is everything being turned into YG offices? We, the Taxpayers have the right to know how much this is costing us!!!!!!
Up 14 Down 28
Jonathan Colby on Dec 27, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Give people money.
Not charities. Not churches.
Give it to the people who need it.
Up 24 Down 8
Nicky on Dec 26, 2019 at 4:45 pm
Like many others I stopped supporting the SA when they closed the Thrift Store. That was one of the few things they did that helped ALL Yukoners, not just addicts.
Up 38 Down 9
Matthew on Dec 26, 2019 at 6:39 am
With an extra 200 in bills/month 50% of families would go broke.. or claim bankruptcy.. true fact.. can't afford to give to the "poor" as we are all poor! Unless your a gov employee of course..
Up 43 Down 4
Dave on Dec 25, 2019 at 4:36 pm
@Juniper Jackson, if the day ever comes that you are going without please post that on here. Myself and I’m sure many others will line up to give back to you in the same way I’m sure you’ve helped many others over the years. I refuse to idly stand by when seniors or elders are in need.
Up 35 Down 8
JC on Dec 24, 2019 at 5:00 pm
I remember the grand days when the Salvation Army used to march through town with their Army band. I guess, "politically correctness" or some other accusation of offense put an end to that.
Up 34 Down 4
Juniper Jackson on Dec 24, 2019 at 3:08 pm
There are so many deserving groups looking at Christmas to fill those empty pockets. In the past, I could give just about all of them something..maybe not a lot, but always something for the hand that was out.. Last couple years, I'm not able to make my bills, and have nothing. Still trying to squeeze something for the Animal Shelter, buy a ticket, a pie, a box of vegetables. (Again this year, the schools did not 'play' fairly. They sent around the cutest, sweetest youngsters to ask a Grandma to support them. Well..here's my wallet.) Too many people feeling the pinch, but not wanting their children to feel the pinch, so Christmas is overspent on credit cards. They know the bill will come due..but for right now.. their kids are thrilled and happy..as kids should be.
I wish I had more for all of you out there volunteering and working your buns off..I want all of these charitable groups to stay operational. If it gets any worse.. I'll be in the line up hoping to receive your services. Sally Ann is just one of the many to thank. So many do such good work, and I thank you all for that,
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Moose101 on Dec 24, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Well they got over 100,000 thousand a month from YTG for a year when they operated the new Sally Anne building for programs that never got off the ground and rumour has it was never paid back. So they should have about 1 million in their bank account from that.