The Salvation Army is hoping for a strong push to meet its goal for its Kettle Campaign but is in desperate need of more volunteers.
The Kettle campaign helps the local Salvation Army meet its financial need and support clients in the coming year. This year they have set a goal of $75,000 anticipating a growing need as many families are struggling with inflation. The one barrier they are seeing is a lack of volunteers to man their Christmas Kettles.
Amanda Courtenay of The Salvation Army said last week they had about 50 shifts for kettles, which are at Freson Bros, Extra Foods and Walmart, left unfilled. Without volunteers stationed at the kettle, they are unable to collect the donations they need.
To volunteer for a kettle shift, contact the Salvation Army at 403-823-2215.
One boost they are looking forward to is Fill the Kettle Day.
On Saturday, December 17, Walmart will be matching donations made by individuals to the Salvation Army kettles located in Walmarts nationwide to a maximum amount. This is a great time to donate and help The Salvation Army meet its goals.
This year they are anticipating about 150 families to be served through the Christmas Hamper program. However, there has been a slow uptake in registration.
They have extended the registration period to Friday, December 16 to make sure everyone is served. Call 403-823-2215 to make an appointment.

The biggest ticket sponsorship item for the Rails to Trails project, the $125,000 Midland Bridge, has been fully supported by the families of Darrell and Dean Kohut, and Heather and Kelly Colberg, and will be renamed Kohut Crossing.
This is the second major sponsorship announced for the project, and the first bridge to be sponsored.
“It’s a really nice legacy to leave for our parents (John and Irene) and our brother (John Jr.) who are no longer with us,” Darrell Kohut said.
The Kohut and Colberg families were inspired to sponsor the bridge because of their own personal family history, and a desire to look for a significant way to honour the memories of John and Irene and the contributions they made to the community during their lives.
“Our parents lived in Midland, and my grandma was actually going to lose her house for taxes to the Town,” Mayor Colberg shares. “So, Dad and Mom moved from Midland to Newcastle (across the bridge), and they took over my dad’s family home.”
She adds the family home is where the pair began Hi-Way 9 Express in 1969.
The Midland Bridge was originally built by CN Rail around 1911, spanning across the Red Deer River between the communities of Midland to the north and Newcastle to the south. Freight trains hauling grain and coal from the mines travelled across the bridge on their journey between Saskatoon and Calgary.
While the railway tracks are still in place, it has been many years since the bridge was operational, and the bridge deck is currently obstructed with large concrete blocks which were placed to help stabilize the structure from fast flowing floodwaters in 2013.
Mayor Colberg says the Rails to Trails project will be “very significant” for the Drumheller Valley and will help attract people to the community, and Midland Bridge-now Kohut Crossing-will once again provide a crucial connection across the Red Deer River for the community.