Yellowknife gives from the heart
Salvation army kettle campaign garners $9,000 more than 2014 total
Meagan Leonard
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknifers have gone above and beyond this holiday season, demonstrating their generosity by helping the local Salvation Army branch leave its fundraising goals far behind.
Mayor Mark Heyck drops some change into a Salvation Army Christmas kettle. The campaign raises money each year during the holiday season for core services and programming. Yellowknife contributions are expected to reach more than $35,000. - NNSL file photo |
In 2014, the city's Christmas Kettle Campaign raised $26,000 for core funding needs. This year, executive director Dusty Sauder said as of Dec. 21 they were just shy of $35,000.
The campaign sees more than 2,000 kettles placed across the country each year and is the organization's primary source of monetary donations.
"That's just from Yellowknife. So we'll be getting close to two bucks a person, which is great," he said.
Because, he said the organization has recently experienced gaps in government funding, the extra boost will really assist program delivery in the new year.
"It will definitely help. Especially as we're seeing services that we provide - the shelter and community-family services - have big gaps between government funding and what it costs to actually offer those services," he said. "The community has definitely stepped up."
The last of the organization's Christmas hampers will also be distributed this week with 240 sent to NWT communities and 278 distributed to families in the capital. The hampers contain all the fixings for a Christmas meal along with gifts for children.
Those numbers are up from last year, said Sauder, by approximately 30 hampers.
He added they've seen the number of adults applying increase, whereas requests for children are declining.
Sauders could not speculate why numbers were rising, but said they had no problem garnering the donations needed.
"It could be economy stuff, it could be ... the grocery store, it's expensive - it's up and it is what it is," he told Yellowknifer.
"But people have definitely stepped up to help us out and get us lots of toys for the kids and donations and food. Food drives have been huge."
The Salvation Army will also be hosting a meal on Christmas Day between 1 and 3 p.m. at its church. Sauder said they have prepared for more guests since the Thanksgiving dinner in October had 60 more people than expected.
"Everyone is welcome ... here's hoping we'll have enough birds," he quipped.
Christmas kettles will be out until Christmas Eve for those still wishing to make a donation.
A portion of sales from the Twin Pine diner during lunch hour will also be given to the Salvation Army that day.
