Salvation Army Kicks Off 2022 Christmas Kettle Campaign

By Robert Thomas

In the three years he has been with the Moose Jaw Salvation Army Lt Lester Ward said due to the economic conditions he has never seen the need so great for those locally needing a helping hand.

But with the dedication of the many volunteers and others accompanied with the well known generosity within the community Lt Ward said despite the challenges he feels the Moose Jaw Salvation Army reach its 2022 kettle campaign goal of $65,000.

“Over the next four to five weeks we look with anticipation, of what we can do through the Salvation Army, in giving back and meeting the needs of the people here in the city and also in the surrounding area in the outskirts of the city,” he said.

“It’s not about the Salvation Army it is about what we can do in the community to help people that are going to have even more of a challenging time during Christmas let alone the challenges that are occurring through the course of the year,” Lt Ward said about the Kettle Campaign.

**Lt Lester Ward tells about the history and the importance of the annual kettle drive - MJ Independent photo**

Speaking at the kettle campaign kick-off this morning at the Moose Jaw Co-op he said all monies donated stay in the local area to help those in need at Christmas and throughout the year.

“The hearts of people in this community have been forever generous. And forever giving from volunteers on kettle shifts, to people giving of their time, their resources, and of course finances which help us do what we do,” Lt Ward said.

“We can’t do what we do in this city without the people behind us.”

He pointed to the community generosity of last year’s Christmas kettle campaign which had a goal of $65,000. A goal the local Salvation Army was able to exceed by raising almost $70,000 in total kettle giving.

The $65,000 goal this year is the same as last year due to local economic factors and the Salvation Army did not want to set a goal that is unachievable.

“It is better to set a goal that is reasonable and if we beat it it is well and good,” Lt Ward said.

Last year, 2021, the local Salvation Army had 345 Christmas hamper applications with 745 Moose Jaw residents - including 312 children.

Lt Ward pointed out that without the hampers 312 children “would have went through Christmas probably without food (and) probably without toys.”

He pointed with pride to the toy shop the Salvation Army has been able to set up at their church where parents can come in and pick one major toy as well as stocking stuffers so their children will have presents for Christmas.

The toys are donated locally through the annual Toy Run put on by the Moose Jaw Motorcylcle Club, donations through Canadian Tire and this year a car show put on by the Downtown Business Association had local car buffs collecting and donating toys as well.

“We are going to do it again this year and that allows the mom or dad of those children some dignity and opportunity where they actually come into our hall at the church and they actually get to pick and select and chose the toys for their children. Rather than us as a Salvation Army saying here it is we hope you enjoy it,” Lt Ward said.

He said the feedback the Salvation Army has been receiving from parents picking out toys for their children is “a feedback of awe.”

“They keep asking will you be doing the toy shop this year and we are.”

There is still opportunities to donate toys to the Salvation Army toy drive as they along with the local Canadian Tire as well as CHAB will be holding an annual toy drive at the store.

The Salvation Army’s first kettle campaign started in Toronto in 1903 “and from there it has grown year, after year, after year,” Lt Ward said.

**Mayor Clive Tolley makes the first donation to the Moose Jaw Salvation Army’s annual kettle campaign - MJ Independent photo**

On the official kickoff day to the kettle campaign there will be four kettles in operation - Safeway, Co-op, Walmart and Superstore.

Later in the week and into the weekend there will be an additional four locations - the Saskatchewan Liquor Board Store, the Sobey’s Liquor Store as well as the Town and Country Mall.

The eighth kettle will be located at the Salvation Army’s Thrift Store.

He thanked people in the community for their support and added “please know we cannot do what we do without such generous support.”

As part of the tradition Mayor Clive Tolley made the first donation to get the campaign underway.

Mayor Tolley initially was going to donate cash but instead decided to use the electronic means of donation to help show people - who in today’s world of electronic money often do not carry cash - that they can still donate in a cashless means.s

Cashless means are Interac, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay and also through your phone.

The people volunteering at the kettles will also be able to take people’s information and put it into a secure letter and the Salvation Army can later issue a charitable tax receipt if desired.

The information taken is the person’s name and address as well as the last four digits on the card making the donation where the donation is matched up with the system and a income tax deductible receipt mailed out.

The kettle’s will also accept people who also want to leave a cheque.

Electronic donations can be made by tapping the appropriate spot for donation amount and then pulling your card back.

The device does not store any personal information for people who are worried about their privacy, Lt Ward said.

“It’s the same as if you were going to a till (in a store to buy something) once you make a transaction it automatically takes he money from your Mastercard or Visa,” he said, adding if the device was stolen or taken the information in the device cannot be used for nefarious purposes.

Mayor Clive Tolley made the first official donation towards the 2022 Christmas Keettle Campaign.

“I’m pleased I am able to in the tradition of the Mayor typically puts the first donation in for the campaign for the season I am very pleased to do that. I am also very pleased to see we have an electronic giving opportunity here - tap to give - meaning most people don’t carry that much cash anymore (so they can also give),” the Mayor said.

He also made mention the support the campaign has had from the Moose Jaw and District Co-op.

“I have been shopping for many years at the Co-op since I was a wee fella and there has always been a Salvation Army kettle location here since this store opened…I am very pleased to represent the City and participate in it and get the kickoff started,” he said.

Kettle Campaign 2022 is underway - from l - r Lt Lester Ward, Natalie Lund (volunteer coordinator), Deputy Chief Rick Johns Moose Jaw Police Service, volunteer Doug Blanc, Mayor Clive Tolley, Michaela Turner Marketing and Relations Co-ordinator Moose Jaw and District Co-op and Greg Lawrence MLS Moose Jaw Wakamow.

“What struck me is that this started in 1903 and that is amazing. Going back 25 years when I was a new constable I remember one of my first opportunities was volunteering at a Christmas Kettle and it was no shortness in amazing the number of people and the generosity that I saw people putting money into the Christmas kettle,” Deputy Chief Rick Johns of the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) said.

“And I have seen that over and over again. If you don’t have an opportunity to volunteer at one of these sites I suggest you do because it really brings home the fact we do give a lot in Moose Jaw. And it is just great to see how much they help the kettle,” Deputy Chief Johns said.

Asked by MJ Independent if he will once again be volunteering he said he would along with other members of the MJPS.

“We volunteer over at the liquor store at that site and there is a number of slots that we have filled already and be working through,” he said, adding “we take two hour shifts each of us and then we rotate as many officers as we can through so everybody can get an opportunity,” the Deputy Chief said.

Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence said he “popped in to thank you for all of the good work you have done in our city for our city.”

Lawrence said he had “been part of the toy run and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have taken pictures from the bottom of the hill on the bike all the way up.”

He said he had volunteered to watch over the Christmas kettles in the past and he would “probably find some time this year” to volunteer again, he said.

“It’s fantastic and it is sad we have to do this but like you said you have been around since 1903 and I want to thank you for all you and your team do for our city.”

The Moose Jaw and District Co-op not only provide space for the Christmas kettle to be inside their store but they also made the first corporate donation - $1,000 - to the campaign.

“The Salvation Army, Ward and his team are doing good work all throughout the year. There are a lot of things happening and we know the need is greater than ever this year and unfortunately it seems to be increasing each year,” Michaela Turner Marketing and Relations Co-ordinator Moose Jaw and District Co-op said.

“There is a lot happening out there and with their organization and their work it is important that we support them. So Moose Jaw Co-op is very proud to be a partner,” she said adding the Co-op was pleased to make the first corporate donation to kick off the campaign,” Turner said. The Co-op gave $1,000 to help out.

“We are happy to host and see all of the volunteers it is always a special thing to be part of. Christmas is a season of giving,” she said.