Christmas season has arrived in the Alberni Valley, and so has the Salvation Army’s annual Kettle Campaign. Once again, Port Alberni’s Star Trek fan club is issuing a challenge for other volunteer groups in the Valley.
Starfleet Alberni Deep Space Port adopted their first kettle back in 2012. Since then, they have posed an annual challenge to other clubs, societies and community groups around town to adopt a Kettle and make a difference in the Alberni Valley.
“Even a group of neighbours could get together and adopt one kettle for one day,” said president Gillian Shearwater.
The Alberni Valley, she explained is a “very active” community when it comes to volunteerism, and if each club or society “adopted” a Kettle for a day, it would go a long way toward filling volunteer schedules.
“Part of the ‘Starfleet’ ethos is building the future, right here, right now,” she added.
Captain Michael Ramsay of the Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries agreed that initiatives like the Kettle Campaign are important when it comes to building “a community for the future.”
“It’s amazing when you realize that every little bit helps,” he said. “It’s a blessing to work with groups such as [Starfleet].”
This year, the Salvation Army will be kicking off its Kettle Campaign with a community event. A Hope in the Valley Breakfast will take place at the Glenwood Centre on Saturday, Nov. 24 from 8-11 a.m. Free breakfast will be provided by the Kiwanis Club and Hertel Meat starting at 8 a.m. and participants can enjoy performances by Alberni Teens Can Rock and the Alberni District Secondary School band, along with others.
The kick-off event, said Shearwater, is a “brilliant idea” to get new people and volunteers out
“It will give everybody an opportunity to hear a little bit more about what the Salvation Army does,” explained Ramsay.
This year, the Salvation Army is aiming to raise $100,000 to provide food for families, toys for kids at Christmas time and other various support services. All funds raised will all go directly towards service provision in the Alberni Valley.
“The Christmas season is just so important,” said Ramsay. “It’s really the most needy time of the year around the country. This is an opportunity for the community to pull together to help those in need.”
Starfleet will be kettling outside of Quality Foods on Saturday, Dec. 1