Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 03/01) - The Red Shield Appeal, the Salvation Army's largest national fundraising campaign, begins Monday in Yellowknife with three days of intense door-to-door canvassing.

Captain Alan Hoeft of the army's Yellowknife unit said the three-day campaign has raised $25,000 in the past and he hopes to top that by reaching this year's goal of $32,000.

"We are still looking for canvassing volunteers, though. We need about 100 to cover this size of an area," said Hoeft.

The funds raised will be transferred to the army's Canadian headquarters in Toronto and then Yellowknife will receive almost $90,000 back for local services.

"We get back so much money because we are a fairly small centre with a lot of programs," said Hoeft.

About 95 per cent of funds raised by the local unit come from individual donations.

The Salvation Army was founded by Rev. William Booth in 1878 in East London.

This year's theme, "Get behind the Red Shield," symbolizes the charity's dedication to providing a safe haven for people with no place to turn.