Record-shattering fundraiser for Salvation Army

Officials with the Salvation Army in Kelowna and Lake Country say they are humbled by the support from the community.

The agency has announced its Christmas fundraiser generated a record-shattering $929,000, well ahead of the goal of $700,000.

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude and humbled by the support from this community” Captain Darryl Burry, Lead Pastor and Executive Director of the Kelowna / Lake Country Salvation Army, said. “This has been a hard year, where at numerous times the financial challenges were very heavy to bear. Once again, the community has stepped-up and supported us.”

Burry said the impact of COVID-19 has been far reaching in the community with many experiencing job losses and/or reduction in hours, which, in part, has led to a 61 per cent increase in demand for Salvation Army services in 2020 over the previous year.

In the month of December, Salvation Army support was shared with 659 local households (a 25 per cent increase over 2019) and 1,150 children were provided with toys for Christmas.

“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who made this campaign a success, and adapted to all of our new COVID safety measures – from the thousands of volunteers who rang bells, sorted toys, counted donations, packed bags, supported the various COVID-friendly Christmas events, to our corporate partners that hosted kettles / events and so much more. We are so blessed to live in a community that cares for one another and that strives to Give Hope, especially in challenging times,” Burry added.

For more information on the army and its programs, go to www.kelownasalvationarmy.ca.