Although the Salvation Army failed to meet their fundraising goal, the charity finished their 2023 kettle campaign raising $8,000 more than in 2022.
This year the campaign was spread out over 11 locations in the community and took in a total of $86,000, compared to $78,000 the year before.
The goal, though, was $120,000.
Last year volunteers rang bells at 18 locations and covered 671 shifts.
A total of 734 shifts were covered this year for the campaign.
“While we didn’t meet our overall goal, the campaign was a success,” noted Amelia Norrie with the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries.
“Our asks to fill volunteer shifts definitely helped us achieve this success, particularly in the last three weeks of the six week campaign,” she said noting that they are extremely appreciative of all of the time and efforts their volunteers from across Ridge Meadows gave this holiday season to help us assist vulnerable members of the community.
Signs were put out asking the community for more volunteer bell ringers this year at the half-way point in the campaign as it became clear there were not enough volunteers to get them through the season leading up to Christmas.
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The kettle campaign is the charitable organization’s primary fundraiser every year and spans a six-week period before Christmas at locations across Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.
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. Ridge Meadows Ministries is a multi-function facility focused on providing the essential needs of food, shelter, and support to the residents of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
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According to the organization, last year they provided: 20, 215 daily school lunches to more than 200 students; 128 Christmas hampers to families and seniors; 208 families with baby and toddler essentials; more than 400 students with back-to-school supplies; 186 thrift store vouchers; 267 emergency food hampers; 50 vulnerable children a week at summer camp at Camp Sunrise on the Sunshine Coast; 92, 560 meals to families, seniors, and individuals in their Community Meal Program; assistance to 27 people to find housing; and help to 29 individuals to find treatment or detox.
For more information on the programs and services offered by The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows year-round, email Amelia.Norrie@salvationarmy.ca.