The Prince George Salvation Army is gearing up for it's most-outwardly busy season and community groups are stepping up to help fill their coffers and food bank shelves.
On the first day of November, Capt. Neil Wilkinson was kept busy accepting donations of 1,800 lbs of food collected by university students participating in Halloween's Trick or Eat campaign as well as a $1,000 donation to the food bank in bake sale proceeds and matched funds from Scotiabank.
"There's a lot of community groups that get behind the food bank," Wilkinson said, adding how "awesome it is that this community is so supportive of their food bank."
Over the next two weeks, residents should also be on the lookout for a group of 10-year-old hockey players going door-to-door collecting food donations. The 28 members of Prince George Pirates are once again collaborating with Northland Dodge to collect for the charity, with the goal of bringing in 50,000 lbs of food.
The Salvation Army will begin taking applications for their Christmas hampers on Nov. 6 and Nov. 8. Those looking to sign up can call 250-564-4000, as can those who are interested in volunteering for the organization's annual Kettle Campaign, which kicks off Nov. 16.
Once again, the goal for the charity's largest funding drive - which runs until Dec. 24 - is $250,000.
"That's where we receive the bulk of our income to be able to do what we do all year round," said Wilkinson. This includes distributing food, clothing and furniture, helping to provide lodgings, sending kids to summer camps and providing emergency relief for first responders. "So that's always exciting."
Following close on its heels is the Nov. 21 kick-off of the 25th annual Tree of Lights at Coast Inn of the North. The celebration - which aims to raise $50,000 this year - goes from 4 to 6 p.m. with the tree lighting taking place at 5:30 p.m. This year, the Salvation Army is teaming up with The Wild Life to have Santa Claus make an unforgettable entrance by rappelling from the hotel roof.
While Wilkinson said he understands the $300,000 fundraising goal for the season sounds like a lofty total, but the money is split many different ways.
Last year's kettle campaign fell short of its $250,000 goal by $40,000, Wilkinson said.
"We feed 800 families every month. When you think about it, stretching $300,000 over 12 months to feed 800 families a month is not a lot of money," he said. "We're able to do an awful lot with that money, however, if we don't meet that goal, well we have to be scrounging and scrimping and begging for money otherwise."
