Port Alberni’s Starfleet Deep Space Port chapter is serious about Star Trek. But it’s also serious about fundraising.
That’s why members of Starfleet—all Star Trek fans and committed community volunteers—have issued a challenge to other clubs, societies and groups as the Salvation Army kicks off its annual Christmas kettle campaign.
“Starfleet challenges every club, society and other group in the Valley to adopt a kettle for one day,” Starfleet spokesperson Gillian Shearwater proclaimed last week.
Aside from carrying forward the vision of the future that led Gene Roddenberry to create the original Star Trek series, each Starfleet chapter undertakes charitable work, Shearwater said. The Port Alberni chapter has cut broom in the spring, participates in the CMHA’s Ride Don’t Hide, sorts bottles to raise money for the SPCA and has worked with the Alberni Valley Hospice Society.
Starfleet has adopted the kettle at Quality Foods on Saturday, Nov. 28 and members will look after the kettle throughout the day.
Kettles will be in front of Walmart, Tyler’s No Frills, Quality Foods, Buy-Low Foods, Save-On-Foods, Fairway Market and the government liquor store on 10th Avenue starting Nov. 27 and daily until Dec. 24. There are five, two-hour shifts per day and kettle campaign coordinator Greg Penny would like to fill them all—something that was a challenge in itself last year, he said.
Anyone wishing to volunteer can call the Salvation Army office at 250-723-6913 ext. 225, or Penny on his cellphone at 250-720-3507. People can also e-mail avkettles@shaw.ca.
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