Saturday is a good day to shop at Walmart in Williams Lake to help The Salvation Army make Christmas a little brighter for people who are experiencing hard times this year.
Walmart Canada is matching donations made by individuals to Salvation Army Christmas kettles this Saturday, Dec. 19, nationwide up to a maximum of $100,000.
The Salvation Army kettles will be in place from noon to 6 p.m. at the Williams Lake Walmart, says Williams Lake SA Cpt. Ben Lippers.
“The community has always been so generous and supportive,” Lippers said in urging residents to support the Christmas kettle campaign. “We’re just praying they will be again.”
Lippers said the local Salvation Army is almost entirely reliant on earnings from its thrift store and Christmas campaign donations to get it through the year.
The lakecity's Salvation Army operates the food bank, offers addictions programs and a drop-in centre. It also provides breakfast and lunch five days a week for those in need, serving up 27,500 meals last year alone.
On Christmas Day, the Salvation Army will also be preparing a Christmas meal for 200 and urges anyone who may find themselves alone for the holidays to head down to the centre beginning at 11 a.m.
“We don’t want anyone to spend Christmas alone, whether you are a single or a senior, please come. It’s a community dinner.”
Since 2007, Walmart Canada and its customers have donated more than $19 million to the Salvation Army, said Major Les Marshall, the SA's territorial public relations and development secretary in announcing the Walmart campaign for Saturday.
"We rely heavily on, and are truly grateful for the support of our generous donors who come alongside us to help provide 1.8 million vulnerable people a better tomorrow."
With a national $21-million fundraising goal, the Christmas kettle campaign enables local Salvation Army units to work with individuals and families and help with basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and other provisions.
Contributions will also enable the Salvation Army to provide life-changing programs, such as substance abuse recovery, housing supports, jobs and life-skills training, and education classes to help people find a way out of poverty permanently.