Captain Al Hoeft of the Salvation Army says the annual Red Shield appeal is set to get underway in Yellowknife.

Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 29/05) - It is time to dig deep and help the Red Shield stay vibrant within this community.

The residential blitz runs from May 2 until May 6.

Captain Al Hoeft of the Yellowknife Salvation Army says the national fundraising campaign will assist in the operation of various services.

"On average, we've raised in excess of $30,000 every year in Yellowknife for our Red Shield campaign," Hoeft said.

"But we receive significantly more back than we've ever contributed as a community," he said, referring to the national distribution of funds. That reflects part of the reality that although it is a small population base, we offer an awful lot of services to the community," Hoeft said.

Money from the campaign helps fund, for example, the shelter and corrections work. It also allows the Salvation Army to respond to disasters both in the community and abroad.

As well, the money funds camps and much of the other work done by the Army all year round, he noted.

A letter campaign is underway as part of the overall fundraiser, "but we do go door-to-door throughout the community" he said.

"Hopefully every door will get knocked on next week."