Final numbers for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign in Williams Lake show that $51,600 was raised. That total is up from the 2011 total of $49,200 said Salvation Army Corps captain Randy Kadonaga Friday, adding the mail-in donations have yet to be tallied.
“Food donations were down from last year, but then our toy donations were astronomical.”
Last year parents were invited to select toys for their children from a “toy store” set up in the Salvation Army, but many told staff and volunteers that it was difficult to choose the toys.
This year the toys were selected for families beforehand, and stuffed into parcels, which Kadonaga said the parents “really appreciated” and were happier not to have to make those decisions.
Around 270 hampers were given out, compared to 290 in 2011, and no one was turned away.
“And our Christmas dinner on Dec. 25 served about 135 meals, volunteers and clients,” Kadonaga added.