With a chill in the air and snow on the ground the Salvation Army is set to begin its annual Christmas fundraising campaign.
The kettle kick-off will be held in conjunction with the annual Teddy Bear Toss scheduled for the Nov. 24 Yorkton Terrier game against the Humboldt Broncos, said Lieutenant Samuel Tim of the Yorkton Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to look after the kettles. Shifts are only two hours, and people interested can contact Mary at 306-316-0265.
Kettles will be located at the Parkland Mall, Save On Foods, Superstore, Walmart, and the downtown Liquor Board Store.
The goal this year is $90,000, an amount eclipsed in 2017, but also an amount buoyed by a donation through the CP Christmas Train stop in the city, said Tim.
It is also time for those in need of a Christmas food hamper, or toys for children, to make an application. The applications are available to fill out on location at the Food Bank on Betts Ave, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays 12-2. Applications are being accepted from Nov. 1 to 29.
The hampers and toys will be distributed the week of Dec. 17 to 21.
A new initiative is also launching to help the Salvation Army collect toys with a ‘Kids Helping Kids’ toy drive taking place at the Parkland Mall Nov. 16 to Dec. 16.
The effort will include an ‘angel tree’ with cards identifying specific toy wishes of children, explained Tim. People can take a card from the tree, buy the associated toy, and return it and the card to the mall location. The program kicks off at 2 p.m. Nov. 16.
