Judy Turmel has been a volunteer for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle campaign for about nine years now, through her affiliation with Bradford Baptist Church.
On a recent Thursday evening, she was standing beside the kettle at the LCBO in Bradford, encouraging shoppers to not only donate their spare change but consider donating their time – to “give a little time, give a little money.”
“We need volunteers desperately,” Turmel said. There are numerous open shifts at the three Bradford Christmas Kettle locations – the LCBO, Walmart and this year, Zehr’s Market.
If there’s no volunteer to stand beside the kettle and ask for donations, the kettle has to be taken away – which means that no donations can be collected for the campaign, which is key in raising awareness of the Salvation Army and funds for its programs.
The money collected at 2,000 locations across Canada provide assistance and services to over 1.9 million Canadians each year, from emergency shelter and transitional housing, to rehabilitation, food support and youth programs. And the money collected in a community, stays in that community.
Anyone can volunteer, Turmel said. “I’m not involved with the Salvation Army, and you don’t need to be,” she noted. “Just step up. It’s only two hours.... It's a really easy job!”
Bradford is part of the Salvation Army’s Central York Region. Residents interested in volunteering can contact Nancy Harrison, Community and Public Relations, at [email protected] or click here.
The Bradford Lions Club is also co-ordinating volunteers, through its annual challenge to the Town of BWG employees. Contact Kathy Howitt, at [email protected] to sign up.
Donations to the kettle campaign can be made at the LCBO, Zehr’s Market or Walmart in Bradford, or online at www.fillthekettle.com. Donations will be directed to the Bradford area, by providing a postal code.
