“Kettle Games” kick off the kettle season

The Salvation Army’s Christmas kettle campaign kicked off across the Maritimes today with a festive competition airing on CTV Morning Live Atlantic. 

Competitors Mayor Mike Savage; SMU Huskies players, Jenny Lewis and Andreas Robinson; and CTV hosts, Cyril Lunney and Alyse Hand, were given a series of fun and festive challenges to officially kick off the Christmas kettles hitting streets across the Maritimes.  Mayor Mike Savage pulled out a narrow victory, as the morning concluded with CTV Morning Live Host, Heidi Petracek, reminding us all of the importance of giving to others this holiday season.

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.

The Salvation Army kettle campaign is 125 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 $1.8 million in the Maritimes, a new record of giving in the region. Those funds support people in need not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. Across the country last year, The Salvation Army assisted over 1.9 million people, including providing over 1.2 million people with food, clothing or practical assistance; providing over 5,000 shelter beds; and serving 3.2 million free meals.

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