The Weyburn Salvation Army has launched their newest fundraising campaign, "Cash for Our Community" and is hoping it will catch on with locals. The new campaign replaces their "Arrest Request" fundraiser.
"If every person gave $1 that would blow our Arrest Request out of the water," said Mailman. "It raised about $8,000 last year."
The Salvation Army decided to replace the "Arrest Request" with "Cash for Our Community" because of the campaigns similarities with a Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser, "Jail and Bail."
"Cash for Our Community" will help to kick-off the Army's Christmas Kettle Campaign, which serves to provide financial support for many of their Christmas duties, including providing Christmas Hampers for families in-need, a free community Christmas dinner, and Sunshine Bags full of seasonal goodies that will be delivered to patients in hospitals and care homes.
Mailman is asking residents to fill a jar with cash and coins by creating a dress-down day at the office, a swear jar at home or any other idea to get the donations flowing. Then, on November 19, bring jars and money to the Weyburn Canadian Tire Store between 12 and 5 p.m. to officially kick-off the Christmas Kettle Campaign.
Those who cannot afford to make a donation (and even those that can) are being asked to help out by participating in the Army's Adopt-a-Kettle program. Participants will man a kettle for a day(s), finding suitable people to fill the shifts. The kettles will be at the Weyburn Co-op, Canadian Tire, Liquor Board Store, Wal-Mart and Wholesale Club.
Christmas Kettle shifts run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays. The kettle will be delivered and picked up from each location by a person from the Salvation Army.
The Army is also looking for residents to participate in their Adopt-a-Family program, in which a group, family or individual "adopts" a less fortunate family from the Weyburn area to give them food for Christmas dinner and presents for family members.
