Kettle campaign launches in Richmond Hill and Vaughan

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 25, 2014
By Sankavi Naguleswaran

On a cold, snowy day last week, the Salvation Army kicked off its annual Give Hope Christmas kettle campaign at the Richmond Hill GO station.

Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow and kettle campaign chairperson, Councillor Greg Beros, joined Major Dave Pearo, leader of The Salvation Army in Richmond Hill and Vaughan to launch the 10th annual campaign with commuters Thursday morning, along other Salvation Army supporters.

Again this year, the Salvation Army is asking Richmond Hill and Vaughan residents and businesses for a holiday donation to help those in need.

Every year, the Salvation Army depends on support from business partners, which includes individual retailers, to place the Christmas donation kettles in their stores.

This year, the Christmas kettles will be hosted at more than 120 locations across Richmond Hill and Vaughan.

Kettle volunteers, also referred to as bell ringers, contribute a lot of time and effort to this great cause.

The money raised in the Christmas kettle campaign will stay in the two communities and be used to support programs for people in need.

“Our goal for this year’s Christmas kettle campaign is to raise $150,000, which will allow us to give hope by providing direct, compassionate, hands-on service to any individual seeking assistance,” said Major Pearo.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity that our community has shown us year after year, and we cannot thank people enough for their continued support.”

Kettle volunteers are still needed, anyone willing to ring the bells at a kettle or sponsor a kettle online should go to FilltheKettle.com

Donations can also be made at the Salvation Army Volunteer Centre, 55 Newkirk Rd., Richmond Hill.