Salvation Army seeking holiday season help
The Salvation Army is putting out a call to help families in need across our community this holiday season.
For more than 40 years the organization has helped people like Achamkeng Abille make it through at this time of the year with its Christmas Hamper Program.
“I was just thinking how Christmas was going to be, but now I’m blessed,” says Abille, a full-time nursing student and mother of two young children.
Abille, along with thousands of others, are picking up their hampers at different sites until Dec. 17.
However, to make everyone’s holiday season festive, the Salvation Army says it needs help.
“We’re at about 5,000 applicants this year and that’s up from last year when we had 4,500,” says Nancy Kerr, the manager of the hamper program.
Kerr says they need help with toy donations, “Our greatest need now is ages two to six for boys and girls as well as boys and girls from nine to 12.”
Donations for the Christmas Kettle Campaign are also down this year after a difficult 2020.
“With COVID last year we did not meet our goal of about $550,000 so we’re even in more need this year,” says Jon DeActis, with the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope.
He says besides money they need volunteers to man the kettles, “Right now we’re very short on volunteers so this is kind of a call out for anybody who’s in a place to volunteer.”
Kerr adds, “We’re just trying to put smiles on faces of children on Christmas morning.”
For more information on how you can donate a toy to the Christmas Hamper Program click here or to volunteer at one of the kettles click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion, 1 person seriously injured: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.