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December 11, 2021 - 6:05 PM
The Kelowna Salvation Army is seeing 30% more clients in need of assistance this Christmas season, compared to last year.
Mark Wagner, pastor with the Kelowna Community Church, said there have been fewer donations this year for the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign as well, about $25,000 less than last year.
About 650 families have also registered for a Christmas hamper as of Dec. 10.
“On all fronts, the need has really grown higher… I don’t want to be in a growth industry. It doesn’t warm my heart when more and more people register. It would be better if fewer and fewer people registered but that’s just not what’s happening,” Wagner said.
“With flood evacuees contributing to the need… you can see sort of what happens, the need rises and the donations need to match that.”
Last year was a record year for the kettle campaign in terms of donations.
“People were more in the grip of COVID and kind of still locked in, maybe that especially motivated people to give,” Wagner said, adding they may not have seen a significant decrease in donations compared to 2019, a non-COVID-19 year.
The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign is a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season. Kettles are found in 2,000 locations across Canada to support The Salvation Army during the Christmas season and throughout the year.
This year is the second year the kettle campaign is also offering a tap option for cards and cell phones for people to donate.
“This year people are kind of picking up what it is and using it so I’m hoping that will help us out as well,” Wagner said.
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