The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign has started.
“The Christmas Kettle Campaign is our only fundraiser we do every year,” said Jodie M. Yule, Community Relations Coordinator from the Salvation Army London Community & Family Services. “It started late November and goes to Christmas Eve.”
“The money raised goes to our community and Family Services Ministry,” she said. “Anyone that accesses our programs whether it’s help that they need for food or clothing… all that money that is raised at the Kettle Campaign goes to help people within the community.”
“For example, in London, all that money stays directly in London to help people that live in London. It doesn’t go to Toronto or anywhere else” Yule said.
Robert, a volunteer for the Christmas Kettle Campaign, says he is volunteering for the event the third year.
“There’s thousands of people right here in London starving today and out in the cold… every penny that we collect goes directly to help those people,” he said. “I was homeless years ago, I know firsthand what it feels like.”
Yule said the money raised is not only used at Christmas time.
“We only fundraise once a year… It’s to help people throughout the whole year so that we can purchase food and all that kind of stuff,” she said.
Christmas Kettle Bubbles are set up at 50 different locations across London, including at major grocery stores and shopping malls. Tip top machines are also available at 20 different locations in the city available with cashless donation options.
The goal this year for London is $550,000. The salvation army is still calling for volunteers for the campaign.
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