Photo: Madison Erhardt
Kelowna’s Salvation Army is $313,000 short in its Christmas campaign.
The Sally Ann set a goal of $800,000 in the Central Okanagan to provide assistance to those in need. But with only a week until Christmas, Pastor Darryl Burry says the campaign is still far from its target, at only 61 per cent of that goal.
“Over these past weeks, almost 600 local families have walked through our doors looking for help and hope. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have been able to meet those needs. But there are still others coming to see us every day, and the needs will still be there after Christmas,” Burry says.
“The funds that we raise at Christmas support our programs and services throughout the entire year – from individual and family support programs, (to) emergency food hampers, services for seniors and our disaster relief efforts.”
Bells are ringing at Christmas kettles throughout the city, and you can also donate at all Salvation Army facilities as well as online at www.kelownasalvationarmy.ca.
“We have seen families where parents are working full-time, but with the cost of everything continuing to rise, find themselves in a place where they just can’t keep up,” says Sonia Withers, community ministries co-ordinator.
“Our desire is to come alongside those who find themselves in a difficult place to let them know that there is hope. From the single parent who is trying to keep their head above water, to the senior working with an extremely tight budget … our mandate is to support others with love and dignity.”
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