John King
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 11/06) - One letter to the Salvation Army says "thank you for putting smiles on my children's faces."

Words like that give hope to volunteers and employees at The Salvation Army.

Cheryl Thomas co-ordinated the Salvation Army Christmas relief campaign and is now organizing the leftover food items into hampers for the following month. - John King/NNSL photo

The crusade against hunger in Yellowknife continues year round, said Major Bob MacKenzie, the executive director for the Yellowknife Salvation Army.

"Right now we have people coming by asking, 'where can I get help now?'," MacKenzie said.

He explains that in the months following the holiday relief campaign, awareness for those in need becomes "second-place."

Although quick to point out that this happens across the globe and not just in Yellowknife, MacKenzie says the number of people in need of assistance is increasing every year.

Cheryl Thomas, the Christmas co-ordinator for The Salvation Army, agrees.

"We found the need for food hampers was up this year by 30 hampers when compared to last year," Thomas said.

There were 630 food hampers handed out this holiday season, said Thomas, representing an additional 30 to 40 families in need of help compared to last year.

"When you think of it in terms of families for a town this size, that's a significant increase," Thomas said.

The charity organization was in short supply of gifts for pre-teenagers and teenagers this year and made a radio announcement calling on the community to help pitch in.

"The community responded quickly and we had citizens in here dropping off gifts that same day," MacKenzie said.

Around 100 food hampers of varying sizes are handed out every month.

"Some months are higher and some are lower, but over the next couple of months we know it will be heavy," Thomas said.

The Salvation Army is here because there is a need, said MacKenzie.