AMHERST, N.S. – This year’s goal is $55,000.
“We exceeded $55,000 last year, so we’re hoping to reach the goal of $55,000 again this year,” Lt. Stephen Toynton of the Salvation Army in Springhill and Amherst said.
The Salvation Army recently kicked off their 2019 Christmas Kettles Campaign at the Springhill Foodland.
Money raised by the kettle campaign is used to provide food and shelter to those in need.
“We’re providing snacks to local schools. We just started doing that,” Toynton said. “We found out that a teacher was bringing snacks from home, so we thought that’s an area where we can help.”
They also have a busy food bank in Springhill.
“We’re finding there are more and more new families coming to our doors to find assistance to put food on the table.”
Toynton says many new families arrive in Springhill because of the low cost of living.
“We think it’s because of the affordable rent in comparison to other parts of the province and the Maritimes. It’s very reasonable,” Toynton said. “And some of them arriving don’t have work.”
The Salvation Army also host soup kitchens at the Salvation Army in Springhill every second Monday, and every Thursday in the lower level of the Amherst Thrift Store.
“It’s an opportunity for local residents to have some homemade soup, sandwiches, dessert, tea, coffee, and the opportunity to get out of the home and interact with others,” Toynton said. “In Amherst, local restaurants and one local resident supplies the soup.”
Kettles are set up at the Foodland in Springhill, and in Amherst at the Walmart, Atlantic Superstore, and Giant Tiger.
The kettles are there Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and they are still looking for volunteers in Amherst to stand by the kettles.
“We encourage as many people as possible in our area to support us so we can help others,” Toynton said.
The kettle campaign runs until 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
