Salvation Army Band  plays Christmas Carols to launch Kettle Campaign- photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – With  the Salvation Army playing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” the  2014  Salvation Army  Kettle Campaign is now officially underway.“Our goal this year is $250 thousand dollars” says  Salvation Army Business Manager, Bill Glasgow.  “We hope to get a little more than  the $250 thousand to  help make up for a shortfall  in last year’s campaign,  but there are some encouraging signs”.

One of those encouraging signs  is a return to the Prince George Cougars games.  The Salvation Army will be permitted to have Kettles at the Cougars’ home games leading up to Christmas.

Another change this year, is the reduction in the number of kettles that will be  placed in the community.  This year there will be 12 instead of the  usual 15. “We think that by reducing the number of kettles, we can have them properly manned” says Glasgow.   He says  no one  drops money into an  unmanned kettle.

But of course, in order to have the  kettles properly manned,   there is a need for volunteers. “We are looking  for volunteers all the time.   We have a dedicated line for volunteers to  call,  which is 250-596 -HOPE or 4763.  We have  our volunteer coordinator at the Cougars game tonight  with a schedule,  so, people can sign up.”  He says  volunteers  need only make a 2 hour commitment  “We’re just hoping we can get a lot of phone calls and a lot of bodies on the kettles this year.”

The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign  runs through to 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve.