RED KET TLE CAMPAIGN
A 130-year-old Christmas tradition, alive in your community In 1891, Captain Joseph McFee of San Francisco had an idea; he wanted to organize a Christmas dinner to feed the poor. The problem was he did not know how to pay for the food. In his youth, McFee had been a sailor and he recalled that seamen there would raise money for charity by placing an iron pot called “Simpson’s pot” on the wharf and passersby would toss coins into the pot. It wasn’t long before McFee’s idea was being hailed as “the newest and most novel device for collecting money.” Out of that idea, the Red Kettle was born and over 130 years later, The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign is a Christmas tradition in over 115 countries around the world and it remains one of the most recognized symbols of hope at Christmas to those in need. In Canada alone, there are more than 2,000 locations across the country and in British Columbia you can find Kettles in over 40 communities across the province. The campaign is by far our largest community-based fundraiser, providing muchneeded funds to help us run programs and services that feed, clothe and shelter our communities most vulnerable, while helping others escape violence and addiction. When you donate to a Kettle in your community, that money stays with the local Salvation Army to serve your community. And your donation is able to go further, because most of our ‘bell ringers’ as they are affectionately known are volunteers. When we do hire people, we are committed to hiring locally and providing equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or physical ability, because we respect and value each other, recognizing everyone’s worth. But we do not do this work alone and across the province and the country we rely on the cooperation of our numerous community and retail partners to ensure the ongoing success of this campaign. And of course, we cannot do this without the support and generosity of the public. The generosity, year after year, allows us to make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most and for that we are grateful. Thank you.
In response to the pandemic, British Columbians stepped up and helped raise a record $5.4 million for the Kettle Program. All of that money stayed locally to help those in need.
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THE SALVATION ARMY ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
