Salvation Army reviews success of hamper program
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After crunching some numbers, the Melfort Salvation Army had another successful Christmas hamper campaign despite a fundraising deficit.
Monetary donations brought in $45,000, which made it possible to deliver 191 Christmas hampers over the holiday season. Captain Rick Robins told northeastNOW toy donations were significantly higher than previous years.
“Usually we’ve had to spend a fair bit of money to purchase toys and other things but this year the community was so generous that we only had to purchase 11 toys for kids this year which is a record,” Robins said.
All of those donations were the result of many toy drives including the Skate with Santa event held before Christmas. Funds were brought in from the Rotary Carol Festival as well as the Mustangs teddy bear toss game.
The goal for this year was $60,000 which Robins said will make for a deficit.
“We fell a little bit short this year in monetary donations which will effect some of our services through the year.” Robins said. “We will have to be careful with that over the year in our spending.”
Tisdale runs the same program in their communtiy and delivered about 70 hampers in that area. Hampers were also delivered to Porcupine Plan, and Hudson Bay.
“To be able to help somebody who really needs help is fantastic,” Robins said. “When you see the joy on their face and of things that they will be able to have Christmas with their family.”
Robins wanted to stress that people aren’t just in need at Christmas time and that there are many opportunities to help the less fortunate throughout the entire year.
The annual Christmas day dinner served 120 people and saw many volunteers come out. Robins said they had so many helping hands that they even turned a few away.
Volunteer opportunities are available all year at the Salvation Army.
“Most people that come here and volunteer want to come back,” Robins said.
The organization hosts an out-post meal every Wednesday at noon with the exception of this Wednesday, Jan. 22 due to a water main break on the block.
Other efforts by the Salvation Army are assisting people one-on-one with their needs including emergency housing, as well as addiction recovery programs.
“It’s something that we work on, if there is something that needs to be done we find a way to try and get it done,” Robins said.
angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca
