Keep the Kettles Boiling

SooNews Staff for SooNews.ca
Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 2:11PM

The annual Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign kicks off November 27th this year. The Kettle campaign is one of the largest fund raising campaigns for the Army. Last year $55,000 was collected in the Kettle. A direct mail campaign is also conducted through the holiday season.

Captain Shellie Kirschman of the Salvation Army shared a little history about the campaigns inception “In the late 1800's Captain McFee promised a 1000 of San Francisco's poorest a Christmas dinner. The problem was he had no money. He remembered his days as a soldier in Liverpool where he saw what was known as 'Simpson's Pot', a large stewing pot into which charitable donations were thrown by people on their way past. He got permission to set up a similar pot, with a sign above saying, "Keep the kettles boiling". It was a success and the money he needed was quickly collected. “

The Army has been doing every since.

Last year the Salvation Army helped almost 5,000 through their food bank. Kirschman thinks that the coming year will see an increase in the number of people who will need assistance.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store on Elgin St. is also having a 50 percent off sale from December 1st until December 4th.

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