Christmas fundraiser aims to provide hope for the community, one kettle at a time

Jennifer Morris, community and family services manager at the Stratford- St. Marys Regional Community Ministries, poses with a kettle at the Stratford Branch.

The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help with this year’s Christmas Kettle Campaign.

The Salvation Army Stratford-St. Marys Regional Community Ministries is seeking volunteers to fill positions within its community coverage, which spans Stratford, Mitchell and St. Marys, to help raise its $385,000 goal.

Volunteers will work shifts at local businesses, facilitating donations placed inside the kettles from Nov. 13 to Dec. 24.

Stratford will have eight kettle locations, St. Marys will have four and Mitchell at two. Stratford volunteers can expect to be posted among the following businesses: Sobeys, No Frills, Walmart, Zehrs, Stratford Mall, Canadian Tire, Food Basics and the downtown LCBO.

The Salvation Army’s community and family services manager, Jennifer Morris, says that all locations will accept cash donations, while only a select few will allow card tap transactions. Donors will also be able to donate online or through the Salvation Army’s mailout campaign.

“The Salvation Army has been in Stratford for over 100 years. A lot of people have a connection to it, and the event resonates strongly with the community,” said Morris. “Someway, somehow, the Salvation Army has been a part of their lives. People just want to do good in their community and their support to stay local.”

Morris notes that funds raised within the Salvation Army’s three covering communities will be used to support their own local branch and its surrounding region. Proceeds will go on to continue the operational needs of the building, as well as provide food and clothing for people in need.  

“We always need more volunteers to stand with our kettles, and we’re getting more interest from organizations who are willing to host our kettle stands,” said Morris. “I encourage our volunteers to get creative and use their passion to make a difference. Past volunteers would do crafts and dress up as Christmas characters during their shift.”

Morris, who grew up in a rural community, said that small communities are always willing to support each other and ensure that everyone has food to eat, something to wear, or a toy to play with at Christmas.

“I don’t think we realize how lucky we are in a small community where we support each other above all else,” said Morris. “Our goal is to provide people with something that they need, that they don’t have in their lives. We aim to give hope, and our volunteers help us provide that to the community.”

Upcoming events include the Salvation Army’s annual toy drive with the Stratford Police Service on Nov. 15 and the food drive on Dec. 13. There’s a callout for volunteers to help with both fundraisers as well as a request for the community donation support. A key need of food items are oatmeal mixes, rice, lunch snacks and canned fruit.

“There are some people in the community who go through the holidays alone, and if we’re the only Christmas they get, then we'd better do it right and make it a good one,” said Morris.

Those interested in volunteering for the kettle campaign can call the Salvation Army’s Stratford branch at 519-271-2950.