SPRINGHILL, N.S. – Stephen Toynton continues to be amazed at the generosity people show every Christmas toward the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign.
The lieutenant with the Salvation Army was afraid this might be the year the campaign would achieve its goal of meeting or exceeding the previous year’s totals. But a last minute push put the campaign over the top with just over $55,000 raised.
“We are thrilled with the result. Last year, we raised a record amount and never thought we could exceed that, but the community rose to the occasion and beat last year’s amount to set a new record,” Toynton said. “It shows the generosity of the community.”
Toynton said he was concerned they wouldn’t be able to equal last year’s number after several stormy days prevented volunteers from getting out to the kettle locations at various stores in Amherst and Springhill.
People still managed to find the kettles and make donations from small change to big bills to support the program. The campaign also benefitted from Walmart Canada that matched contributions on the final Saturday before Christmas.
It also had tremendous support from various community groups and individuals that volunteered to staff the kettles throughout the Christmas period.
All the money stays in Cumberland County in support of the Salvation Army’s food bank in Springhill, that serves an average of 80 families and month, as well as community kitchens in both Springhill and Amherst.
The Springhill kitchen operates every second week at its Main Street facility and every Thursday at its Amherst location on the corner of Hickman and West Victoria.
Money also goes to support tenants at risk of being evicted by their landlords and to help with things like power and heating bills.
“We do a good job at stretching the money out throughout the year and it all goes to programs we offer here in Cumberland County,” Toynton said. “For the food bank, what’s not donated, we use the flyers to find the best deals on food. We do a good job at making it last.”
Twitter: @ADNdarrell
