Editor:
To all who volunteered their time this Christmas season with the Salvation Army Christmas Cheer campaign by manning kettles, assembling toy hampers and cooking and serving the Christmas Dinner — thank you.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to everyone who donated so generously to the campaign.
The kettles raised more than $63,000 and an additional $60,000 was brought directly into the office.
The Williams Lake Tribune/Weekend Advisor, schools, banks, stores, clubs, service groups and many individuals helped to make this Christmas a better time for those needing assistance.
Also a special thank you to the children of the schools who made the Christmas gift tags and the businesses who donated the materials and the many wonderful people who bought Christmas gifts and “The Old Girls” and their teenage gift bags. Thank you to the volunteers for the Christmas Angel tree.
With volunteer help and generous donations of goods and finances, the Salvation Army has served more than 660 individuals, including more than 267 children during the Christmas season.
Through the months of January to December 2015, our Community and Family Services has provided direct assistance to more than 38,000 individuals at a value of more than $614,900 via the food bank, emergency relief, drop-in, breakfast and lunches, distribution of blankets, coats, toques, mitts, scarves and winter boots as well as Christmas hampers, toys for kids, and the Christmas dinner.
The food bank shelves are always in need in order for us to continue assisting people. It is only through the generosity of this community that we can accomplish this.
With the abundance of toys that were donated during the Christmas season we are able to offer a birthday toy for our most needy food bank families — spreading the joy of giving over the remainder of the year.
In the last couple of months we have seen an increase of approximately five per cent in new clients both in our feeding program and our food bank. We thank the Williams Lake community for helping us meet that need.
On Saturday, April 16 at noon the Salvation Army will be hosting a volunteer appreciation lunch for all those who have graciously volunteered their time to assist us with our many services within our community.
If you plan to attend, please contact the office at 250-392-2423 ext. 213.
Salvation Army Cpt. Isobel Lippers
Williams Lake