With only one week to go the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries is making a final push to get more bell ringers for their kettle campaign to reach their fundraising goal.
The local charitable organization is still in need of volunteers to fill 200 shifts, at two hours a shift, as they are only about half way to their goal, raising $63,000 so far.
Their goal is $105,000.
But, fundraising coordinator for the local ministry things the goal is still doable, said Amelia Norrie, fundraising coordinator at the local ministry – as long as they get volunteers to fill the shifts.
The kettle campaign started in mid-November and is the charitable organization’s primary fundraiser every year. It spans a six-week period at more than 15 locations across Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge where volunteers ring bells and collect donations in the iconic red kettles. this year the organization is also able to accept tap donations as well.
Norrie said the need is changing and they are now seeing a lot more families and individuals who are employed but still struggling to make ends meet.
“And that’s exactly why we are here,” she said. “Is to make sure that nobody goes hungry and that everybody has the resources that they need, whether it’s diapers or a food hamper, we’re here to help.”
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In fact, new research by the Salvation Army finds that people across the country are struggling to meet their basic needs with inflation, food affordability and housing security persisting as top issues. Single parents, caregivers and single-person households are facing the most pressure, demonstrating how these struggles are not felt equally by all Canadians, the agency said.
The survey, conducted from October 12-19, included a sample of 1,515 of Canadians who are members of the online Angus Reid Forum, who were balanced and weighted on age, gender and region. Canadians living in Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut were not included in the survey. The responding research produced the 2023 Canadian Poverty and Socioeconomic Analysis report in order to better understand attitudes, behaviours and experiences on issues such as the availability of housing and food, general affordability and related health outcomes.
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“As one of the largest non-governmental direct providers of social services in Canada, this data helps The Salvation Army to quantify the demand for ongoing social services provided and helps the organization to better serve those in need,” said the agency about the report.
Norrie said they had their biggest fundraising day this past Saturday, Dec. 16, at Canadian Tire, a great supporter of the cause. The Ridge Meadows Flames hockey team, along with members of Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey, rang the bells all day to raise more than $1,000.
The last day of the kettle campaign is on Saturday, Dec. 23 and the last shift is from 6-8 p.m. at all of their locations.
Interested volunteers can contact the Kettle Coordinator, Stuart at rmkettles@salvationarmy.ca.
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country.