Bill Horsburgh (centre) is congratulated by Hazel Gonyea, Assistant Kettle Campaign Manager (left) and Debbie Scott, Campaign Manager for winning the individual Bell Ringer Award. Bill volunteered an incredible 232 hours in the Kettle Campaign. (Photo: John Spitters / Quinte News)
It was the best ever!
The Belleville Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign brought in a record amount of money this Christmas season.
The campaign’s goal was $175,000.
The Salvation Army’s Abby Mills made the announcement last night in front of over 200 people at the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.
There was even better news in that all of the money hasn’t come in yet from some businesses so the total will certainly be higher than $200,000.
The Kettle Campaign is the Belleville Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser of the year and is crucial to keeping its services to the needy running.
The money raised supports the lunch room, the warm room, evening dinners, the food bank, and the clothing depot.
Two groups were honored for their hard work on the kettles. Pictured from left to right: Joe Drummond and Brenda Ryan of Trillium 2000 Seniors Club and Jamie Trudeau and Chris Finkle of Belleville Rotary.(Photo: John Spitters / Quinte News)
Director of Community and Family Services Abby Mills told the crowd that the demand for the Belleville Army’s services has grown by
leaps and bounds over the many years she has served.
“When I started, we thought it was busy if we served 60 or 70 lunches in a day. Now, if we serve 110 lunches we think it’s quiet.
One day in August of last year, we served 250 lunches at our Pinnacle Street headquarters”.
Kettle Campaign Manager and Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Scott couldn’t thank the hundreds of volunteers enough. “We only have 5 staff!
You have no idea what your hard work and dedication means, not only to us, but to the entire community”!
Scott herself was praised for creating awareness in the community about the Salvation Army’s mission and bringing in several new volunteers for the campaign. Abby Mills said she’d never experienced such a smoothly run campaign.
Young Jasmine Turcotte helps to draw names for prizes. Flanking her are the Salvation Army’s Debbie Scott (left) and Abby Mills. (Photo: John Spitters / Quinte News)
Belleville councillor Garnet Thompson brought greetings from the city, saying “volunteers are invaluable and without you there would be no community”!
The campaign’s youngest volunteers, Jasmine Turcotte and Joshua Gentile, both 6 years old. (Photo: John Spitters / Quinte News)
