Kettle collection

With 12 days left before Christmas Eve, an official with the Salvation Army says it will be a close call for the kettle campaign to reach its goal of $130,000.

Maj. Mervyn Halvorsen, executive director of the Salvation Army Social Services, said they had raised more than $68,000 from the Christmas Kettle campaign as of Saturday.
The annual fundraiser raised more than $140,000 last year, which helped fund dinners at the Salvation Army, the soup van and other programs at the Salvation Army, he said.

"Thunder Bay went over our goal last year and it helped us with our programming," Halvorsen said. "We’re hoping to hit the $130,000 mark this year. We’re just at the halfway point so we’re almost there."

The demand for the Salvation Army food bank increased by 29 per cent from last year and more than 2,500 people on average who use the soup van per month, he said. Most of those who come to use the food bank and soup van are families and the elderly, he said.

"There are a lot of people in this community who don’t have enough food to put on their table," he said.

Halvorsen added residents could donate to the Salvation Army at Real Canadian Superstore, Walmart, Intercity Shopping Centre, County Fair Mall and at any of the city's LCBO's.

Ryan Holomego, Walmart store manager, said they have been involved with the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign since it started about 15 years ago. He said the company just wanted to help and make a difference in the community.

"We’ve been helping right from the beginning and it has been a great success," Holomego said. "We’re part of the community and we want to try and help out as much as possible. We have a lot of customers that come through Walmart and they don’t seem to mind to open their hearts and their wallets to help the people of Thunder Bay."