The Salvation Army in Edmonton has issued an urgent appeal for community support as its iconic Christmas Kettle campaign struggles significantly behind its fundraising target. With just seven days remaining before the kettles are removed, the charity has collected only 30 per cent of its $500,000 goal.
Campaign Running Well Behind Previous Year
Maj. Rob Kerr, the divisional secretary for The Salvation Army Prairies and Northern Territories Division, stated that current donations are substantially lower than what was raised at the same point in 2024. The organization is expressing clear concern over the shortfall.
"We know that Edmontonians can come through at the last minute, but we are very concerned as we are well behind where we were last year at this time," Kerr said. He emphasized that both financial contributions and volunteer time are critically needed to help bridge the gap.
Volunteer Shortages Threaten Collection Efforts
The success of the physical kettle campaign is directly tied to having enough volunteers to staff them. The charity highlighted that if shifts are not filled, kettles cannot be placed in locations to collect donations.
Volunteers can still sign up for two-hour shifts through the website yegkettles.ca. "If short volunteers, the Kettles can’t be put out to collect donations," a news release explained. While volunteers are essential, Kerr also hopes people will "dig deep and make a donation to help make this campaign a success."
Broader Trend of Financial Strain Impacts Giving
The Salvation Army pointed to a challenging environment for charitable giving. Citing recent data from the Fraser Institute and its own socioeconomic analysis, the charity noted a trend where more Canadians are facing financial pressure while fewer are donating to registered charities.
This decline in generosity comes at a time when the need for community support services continues to grow. "This decline in generosity undoubtedly limits the ability of Canadian charities to help neighbours through life’s hardest moments and beyond," the organization stated.
Funds raised by the Christmas Kettle campaign remain in the local community. They support a wide range of Salvation Army programs year-round, including:
- Food bank services
- Clothing assistance and homelessness prevention
- School supplies and family support programs
Edmontonians can contribute at physical kettle locations found in malls, grocery stores, Costco, and other major retailers using cash, cheque, debit, or credit via tap. Donations can also be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by visiting the campaign website at yegkettles.ca.
