Salvation Army National Leader Says Thank You

Dear friends:

Thousands of Canadians experienced the joy of this past Christmas — because you enabled it.

Most of us think of Christmas as a festive time, with presents under the tree, the smell of turkey in the oven, surrounded by family and friends.

But for those who have met with hard times, Christmas is a time of sadness and anxiety.

Take Charlene for instance. This past year was tough for the 46-year-old and her family. While her husband has a good-paying job, he was laid-off three times in 2012. As Christmas inched closer she realized she could only afford stocking stuffers for her two children. That would mean no Christmas dinner. Your generosity enabled The Salvation Army to provide that family with a turkey dinner with all the fixings, toys under the tree and much-needed winter wear.

By donating you have made a huge impact, making peoples’ lives easier not only at Christmas but throughout the year. With your generosity it is possible for The Salvation Army to provide its critical, wide-ranging services to people who need us every day. And our social and community service programs focus on nurturing the capacities, skills and strengths of individuals rather than just giving them a hand out.

Last year, The Salvation Army helped more than 1.8 million people in Canada and Bermuda — that’s close to 5,000 people every day.

While it is too early to calculate final results for our 2012 Christmas Campaign, The Salvation Army will stretch donations as far as it can to help as many people as it can.

As leader of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for your continued support. Whether you are an enthusiastic volunteer, a generous donor, or a compassionate event sponsor — together we can make lives easier and help get people back on their feet.

On behalf of the whole organization, I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year.

Sincerely,

Brian Peddle
Commissioner
Territorial Commander for Canada and Bermuda