Another successful Christmas Kettle campaign at Athens Greek Souvlaki sees $4,838.10 raised for Salvation Army

Stratfordians donated $2,419.05 to the Christmas Kettle at Athens Greek Souvlaki. The restaurant matched the donation for a total of $4,838.10 donated to The Salvation Army Stratford-St. Marys. Pictured from left to right are Athens Greek Souvlaki server Pam Vermist, community and family services manager with The Salvation Army Stratford-St Marys Jennifer Morris, local Salvation Army executive director Rick Honcharksy, Athens Greek Souvlaki owner Terry Voulakaridis and server Maria Demetriou.

Stratford proved its generosity again by surpassing last year’s donations to the Christmas Kettle in the Athens Greek Souvlaki restaurant.

Last year, Terry Voulkaridis, owner of Athens Greek Souvlaki, went to The Salvation Army Stratford-St. Marys to request a special Christmas Kettle be placed at his store, where he promised to match every dollar that was donated in the kettle. After all the donations were calculated, both Voulkaridis and The Salvation Army were astounded at the number, $2,000!

This year, Voulkaridis had a goal to raise even more. People came from far and wide, even as far as Alberta, to donate to the Athens Greek Souvlaki Christmas Kettle. With everyone’s generosity, the total donated to The Salvation Army this year by Athens Greek Souvlaki was $4,838.10!

“Amazing citizens of Stratford and surrounding area,” said Voulkardis. “Your big heart and generosity are overwhelming. The Salvation Army and the people you helped are thanking you. The smiles you put on children’s faces and their families is precious. May God bless you and give you health and prosperity. (Myself) and the wonderful employees of Athens Greek Souvlaki are thanking you from the bottom of their hearts.”

The Salvation Army provides a wide range of community support programs. These include a food bank, a thrift store in St. Marys offering vouchers for those in need, and partnerships such as one with Feline Friends to assist with spaying and neutering cats. They also collaborate with the City of Stratford to offer a low-income tax clinic, distribute back-to-school backpacks filled with supplies, and sponsor a summer camp in the Simcoe region for 15 children from Stratford and St. Marys each year.

“The need is still there, it’s still growing. It’s just the people which we’re helping has changed slightly,” said Jennifer Morris, community and family services manager with The Salvation Army Stratford-St. Marys. “It’s not just the people you stereotypically see as needing a food bank, it’s kind of grown into more middle class.”

With a 26 per cent increase in the need for The Salvation Army’s support, the homelessness crisis has significantly worsened in the recent years. Factors such as renegotiated mortgages, high interest rates and elevated food prices have contributed to the problem.

“This is a wonderful partnership and friendship that we have here,” said Rick Honcharksy, executive director of the local Salvation Army. “We hope that Terry’s place continues its success and our friendship and partnership just grows. Thank you for your generosity and your big heart.”

“We don’t always have businesses that take the lead,” said Morris. “Everyone’s having a hard time, and having Terry reach out to us has been amazing. It’s a very rare occurrence. Having a business take time out and making space for us for a whole season, six to eight weeks, you don’t normally get that.”

“I was happy to arrive in Toronto in 1969 with $20 in my pocket and a light jacket my mother knitted me,” said Voulkaridis. “The Salvation Army came … and they gave me boots, long johns, a scarf, gloves. … I was blessed to have The Salvation Army being there for me.”

“The feeling you get when you give, the smile you get when you give, the hug when you give, it’s about God’s love. Giving is priceless.”

The Salvation Army is still accepting donations and tax receipts are now available up to and including any donations made in February for the 2024 tax season.