Salvation Army volunteer and Kettle Coordinator Diane Thorne (left) and Major Connie Armstrong at The Salvation Army Community and Family Service office in Port Elgin preparing for this year's Christmas Kettle Campaign.

Hub Staff

The Salvation Army's annual Christmas Kettle Campaign will officially get underway December 1, bringing volunteers to various locations throughout Saugeen Shores.

The annual fundraiser takes place across Canada during the holiday season and funds raised go in support of the work of The Salvation Army.

The Kettle Campaign is the Salvation Army's largest fundraiser of the year and the money collected within Saugeen Shores is used to help local families. “It's huge for us because all of the work that we are able to do from this office in helping people,” said Major Connie Armstrong of The Salvation Army Community and Family Services in Port Elgin.

Major Armstrong said that the Food Bank was the most obvious service that The Salvation Army Community and Family Service offered but they were there to help in other ways as well. “There's a lot of other concerns that people have that we're able to help with, even to the point of emotional caring,” explained Armstrong, adding that everything they are able to do throughout the year was dependent on the amount raised through the Kettle Campaign. “That's why it's so important to us," she said.

The local Salvation Army branch serves over 300 individuals in 100 families on a regular and on going basis, explained Armstrong. “We are a small operation but the people who come, we're able to connect with them personally when they come in,” she said. “It makes a big difference for people I think.”

Kettle Campaign volunteers can be found at Rowland’s Independent, Giant Tiger and Walmart in Port Elgin and Southampton Foodland on December 1, December 6 to 8, December 13 to 15, December 19 to 22 and December 24.

Volunteers are still needed and Volunteer and Kettle Coordinator Diane Thorne is asking anyone who can donate some time to contact at her at 519-797-3897.