Saskatoon’s Salvation Army at 50 per cent of campaign goal this season

With inflation and the cost of living on the rise, some Saskatchewan families are giving less to charities this holiday season.

Saskatoon’s Salvation Army is seeing that reflected in its most recent Kettle Campaign, which is sitting at 50 per cent of its annual  goal.

Salvation Army Lt. Derek Kerr said the kettles collect money for programs and services that get support throughout the year.

“These funds are critical to get us through to next year,” Kerr told The Evan Bray Show on Monday.

The funding supports programs such as the breakfast program for schools in Saskatoon or the Food on the Move truck that provides lunch for children in need in parks throughout the city in the summer.

Last year, Kerr said the campaign raised just over $242,000, but this year’s campaign is sitting at $164,000. Its goal is $325,000.

Kerr believes the reason behind the decline in donations is inflation, and the cost of goods and services.

“We hear it every day: Families are struggling to make ends meet,” Kerr said, adding that because of this, there is an increased demand for the Salvation Army’s services.

On Monday,  the organization held a walk-in program for families that haven’t signed up for a Christmas hamper.

“The lineup is right out the door,” Kerr said. “We just didn’t expect it.”

He said the organization has a long way to go to reach the goal for this year’s campaign, but is hopeful for more donations.

“These programs and services are vital to the communities, not only in Saskatoon but right across the province of Saskatchewan,” he said.

Kerr said it’s getting more difficult each year to bring in volunteers, but added that during the Christmas season, community groups, businesses and individuals “step up to the plate” to stand by the kettles.

Maj. Al Hoeft, the Salvation Army’s divisional secretary for public relations, said in Regina, the campaign’s donations are on track with last year’s numbers.

Currently, the donations are sitting at $193,000 out of the $250,000 goal, he said. Last year, Hoeft said, the organization received just over $250,000 in donations.

With only a week left in the campaign, he’s hopeful the organization can reach its goal with the help of the community.

Hoeft said the organization is working hard to make sure kettle volunteer shifts are filled, and this week the non-profit will also finish distributing toys to around 4,400 children in the community.

Hoeft reiterated the importance of donations to not only help those in need during the Christmas season, but also year-round.

He said there has also been an increase in families that are turning to the Salvation Army for its services, noting the reason could also be due to the economic downturn and the pandemic.

“Some families right now, they’re scraping by, but there’s just nothing extra for the Christmas season,” he said.

There are opportunities in both Saskatoon and Regina for volunteers, and donations still can be made at kettles throughout the week.