MOOSE JAW — To continue a longstanding tradition of the Salvation Army in Moose Jaw, Moose Jaw’s new mayor, James Murdock, made the first kettle donation to formally kickstart this year’s kettle campaign.
Murdock’s donation was received at the Safeway kettle location on Nov. 22, which was also the first day of the 2024 campaign.
“The funding campaign at Christmas is very significant because it not only funds Christmas (programs and supports) for families and individuals, but it helps us run our programs throughout the year as well,” announced Major Byron Kean, the corps officer for the Salvation Army in Moose Jaw.
As well, a portion of proceeds helps support the organization’s breakfast program and enables children to attend summer camp programs who may not have had the opportunity otherwise.
A further portion “goes to other initiatives that we have that need funding to meet the needs of our community,” Major Kean added.
This year’s campaign is spread across seven confirmed locations including Superstore, Sobey’s Liquor, the Town ‘N’ Country Mall, the Moose Jaw Co-op, Safeway, South Hill Fine Foods, and Walmart.
With $560 raised as of Nov. 29, Kean said the Salvation Army is “slightly ahead” of where it was at this time last year in 2023, but added that “we still have a long way to go.”
Major Kean emphasized that community awareness plays a crucial role in the Salvation Army’s charitable efforts. “People being aware of what the Salvation Army does in the community enables us to go to the community and say, ‘This is where we are, and this is what we need,’” he said, noting that the community can be “incredibly responsive” when they’re made aware of specific needs.
“I’ve said it before, and I will say it many times in the future — we would not be able to do what we do without the help of the people in the communities where we serve,” he continued.
“We do not take for granted the giving (nature) of the people here in Moose Jaw. (We) truly appreciate everything that the community does for us.”
Collection kettles will remain available until the campaign concludes on the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 24.
The Salvation Army Thrift Store is located at 175 First Avenue Northeast and can be reached at 306-692-5899.
To learn more about its work in the community, visit SalvationArmyMooseJaw.ca or ‘The Salvation Army in Moose Jaw’ on Facebook.
