“It’s really critical that we get some good support from the community.”
That’s Calvin Wong, a member of the Kemptville Salvation Army, on the organization’s Christmas Kettle fundraiser. The campaign began on Saturday with a kick-off event at the Ferguson Forest Centre and the North Grenville Municipal Centre, with the first donations being accepted at 6:00 PM, followed by a free night of family skating.
Wong, one of the fundraiser’s organizers, says the campaign is important, as it helps collect money for a number of local initiatives. “The money that’s collected through the kettles,” Wong says, “actually goes to provide services. Mainly the food bank, but also other services like emergency shelter, snowsuits, backpacks, all those kinds of things throughout the year.”
Wong, speaking at the event, says he’s pleased by the turnout, given the ongoing pandemic. “So far,” Wong says, “we’ve had lots of kids going through the bouncy castle and checking things out, and I think this is the first event for the free skate at the municipal centre, which the Salvation Army is sponsoring.”
With the kick-off event for the campaign concluded, the Salvation Army is now looking for volunteers to collect donations at their kettle locations. For details on how to volunteer, check the Kemptville Salvation Army Facebook page.