Ultimate Fishing Town, Salmon Capital of the World and now you can add Salvation Army Kettle Campaign daily total champ to the city’s list of titles.
The unofficial title came on Saturday after Scotiabank volunteers who manned the Salvation Army Kettle outside Walmart raised $6,500 — $557 in pocket change alone.
The bank matched the amount with $5,000 of its own, bringing its total contribution to more than $12,000.
The Port Alberni Kiwanis members also raised $3,700 on Saturday and matched it with another $3,000.
Together, the efforts raised more than $18,800 locally — a national record, Salvation Army Capt. John Cloke said.
If there was such a thing as Christmas coming early, that day was it, Scotiabank manager Cherie Williams said.
“We were ecstatic when we found out,” Williams said. “It’s another reason to feel proud of being part of this community.”
Larger organizations prudently made bulk donations to the Kettle Campaign that day, knowing that it would be doubled.
The Steelworkers donated $2,000, which was subsequently doubled to $4,000, Williams said.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com