The Salvation Army kicks off its annual Christmas kettle campaign

Christmas is coming and it’s once again time for The Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles to hit the streets.

In the coming days, more and more kettles will appear as the annual fundraiser ramps up to full speed, collecting funds to support those affected by poverty in our community.

This week, the Halifax Centre of Hope hosted a brief ceremony and celebration to kick off the kettle season in HRM, one of several such celebrations across the region.

The event featured festive music from a Salvation Army brass ensemble, seasonal refreshments and opening remarks to launch the campaign. HRM Councillor Jennifer Watts brought greetings on behalf of the city, encouraging everyone to remember The Salvation Army during this busy period.

The Salvation Army kettle campaign is 122 years old, beginning in San Francisco in 1891 when Capt. Joseph McFee put a pot out to collect funds to host a Christmas dinner for the poor. The campaign came to Canada in 1906, originating in St. John’s, N.L.

Growing from just a single pot, today there are over 2,000 kettles from coast-to-coast in Canada, and approximately 200 here in the Maritimes.

Last year, The Salvation Army collected over $1.6 million in the Maritimes, a new record of giving in the region. Those funds support people in need in our region not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. Across the country last year, The Salvation Army assisted over 1.8 million people, including providing over 1.3 million people with food, clothing or practical assistance, providing over 6,000 shelter beds of all types and serving 2.6 million free meals.

This year’s goal is to once again eclipse the $1.6 million mark.

Please support The Salvation Army’s Christmas kettle campaign and help us continue to give hope today.