It pretty much takes an army to run Belleville’s Salvation Army Kettle Campaign every Christmas season.
Wednesday night at the Salvation Army church over 200 people got together for the annual Kettle Campaign Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.
Debbie Scott, the Army’s Volunteer Coordinator and campaign manager said 300 or more volunteers worked the kettles and did other jobs
in the 6-week effort which saw over $200,000 raised to help the needy in Belleville all year round.
Director of Belleville Ministries Abby Mills, who’s served many years with the Salvation Army, said she’d never seen such a passionate group of volunteers.
“Thank you for your big hearts, your spirit and enthusiasm.”
She went on to praise staffer Debbie Scott for her tireless work recruiting and organizing the volunteers with the help of longtime volunteer Hazel Gonyea.
Volunteer Coordinator and Kettle Campaign Manager Debbie Scott with volunteer Hazel Gonyea.(Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
Representing the City of Belleville and the dinner were councillors Kelly McCaw, Garnet Thompson, and Pat Culhane.
Culhane said a community wouldn’t exist without its volunteers adding that life’s real meaning came from helping others.
“I am proud to be here with you tonight.”
The Bell Ringer Award for most hours manning a kettle was handed to Bill Horsburgh who worked full time through the campaign, putting in 236 hours.
Barry Day volunteered for 224 hours while Dee Gainham contributed 152 hours of her time. Dee was so dedicated she stayed with her kettle at Giant Tiger at Sidney
and Bridge Streets even while the store had to be evacuated for a time due to a power outage.
A group of volunteers who worked at least 48 hours during the campaign. The 3 most industrious are at the right of the photo. From right to left: Barry Day, Dee Gainham, and Bill Horsburgh.(Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
The Community Spirit Award went to Christ Church Anglican whose volunteers spent 168 hours with the kettles raising almost $11,000.
It was a close race between the top two groups to see who would raise the most money in the campaign.
Chris Finkle(left) and Jamie Trudeau of the Belleville Rotary Club.(Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
After all of the cash was counted and recounted, the Belleville Rotary Club came out on top, raising $20,732.77 and narrowly topping the $20,478.38
raised by the Trillium 2000 Seniors Club.
The Rotary Club staffed the kettle at the Bell Boulevard LCBO throughout the campaign.
Local gospel music singer Debbie McLean provided entertainment at the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.(Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
