Salvation Army seeking Christmas hamper sponsors for Kamloops and Merritt families

KAMLOOPS — Winter holidays are rapidly approaching, and the Salvation Army in Kamloops is working hard to gather volunteers for its annual kettle campaign and put together Christmas hampers for families in need.

Bells have been ringing outside many local retailers this season, and Captain Cory Fifield says as more kettle locations are added in December, the Salvation Army will need more volunteers to collect donations.

“The greatest part about what we do here is that every dollar that gets put into the kettle – every tap that happens – all those funds stay here in the Kamloops area for us to support people in need,” Cory says. “So that funds the services we provide all year long.”

It’s a particularly busy time for the Salvation Army. Their annual Christmas hampers are being put together for Kamloops, and this year Captain Kelly Fifield says the organization has also taken on hampers for families in Merritt.

“We’re looking for about 230 more people to pick up sponsoring a family,” Kelly says. “Our numbers are higher in Kamloops this year than they have been in previous years. And then with the Merritt families on top of it, we want to make sure we can get everyone matched up.”

Captain Fifield says they’re hoping to have most hampers matched up and sponsored by the end of this week, to ensure there’s enough time to shop for items before stores get busier right around Christmas.

For more information on how to volunteer with the kettle campaign, email kettles.kamloops@salvationarmy.ca, or call the Kettle Scheduler at 250-819-0843.

To find out more about sponsoring a family with a Christmas hamper, you can go online at kamloopsalvationarmy.ca, call 250-554-1611, or email cfs.kamloops@salvationarmy.ca.