By François Biber

Salvation Army hopeful younger generations volunteer

Nov 5, 2014 | 11:20 AM

With the poppy campaign well underway, organizers are putting the finishing touches on another very important Canada-wide charity: the Salvation Army Christmas kettle drive.

Staying consistent with previous years, campaign organizer Daryl Gran said while dozens of volunteers have come forward already, there’s always room for more.

“There’s a direct correlation between the number of volunteers and the number of venues so we’re prepared to put more venues if we get more volunteers,” Gran said, adding right now they have 22 venues locked in, including all Saskatoon malls and Walmarts.

Gran said money collected from the kettle campaign helps fund and pack Christmas hampers for the less fortunate; and while the pool of volunteers shrinks due to people aging or dying, the need for hampers isn’t shrinking as fast.

“The older people are dying out and so there’s not as many people coming up getting involved because we live in a busy society so if no one does it it’s not going to get done,” Gran said, adding a bulk of volunteers fall within 70 to 85 years old. “So we need to start at the grade-school level to try and get people to volunteer and get involved.”

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

3h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

9h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

Dec 13, 2024

Organizers encourage kettle volunteers to have fun and be creative with their stations. Gran said last year they had a few performers and singers manning the kettles and it may result in more donations from the public.

“It’s not just standing there ringing a bell if you want to sing we’re pretty well open to whatever brings in the Christmas cheer,” Gran said.

With three-quarters of the schedule already filled, Gran said they’re in a much better position than they were last year, where in a pinch they had to shell out money for volunteers.

“Last year there were about six people (in the Salvation Army program) who we asked to help us out and we would pay them for six shifts if they worked the shifts,” Gran said. “We’re way more organized this year, we were a month earlier in preparing for this we know a lot more than last year and we’re so far ahead.”

The kettle campaign runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 24. Last year with 1,500 shift the Salvation Army raised close to $300,000. With 1,800 shifts pencilled in for 2014, the organization hopes for a similar if not better result.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow