The Salvation Army in Canada say the pressures of the pandemic and the impact of inflation are having a significant effect on Canadian families. A news release from the international organization says that 65 per cent of the Canadian children served by the Salvation Army were between six and 11 years old.

With that in mind, the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign has been launched. It’s the Salvation Army’s largest public fundraising drive of the year, supporting 2.1-million vulnerable people in 400 communities across Canada. Spokesperson, Lt-Colonel John Murray, says the fact that the number of people using our services continues to increase is alarming to us and means we still have important work to do. He notes that 1.4-million children cannot access enough food.

There will be 2,000 kettles spread across the country, and you can use a contactless payment receiver called tiptap at over 1800 locations across Canada. Donations can also be made online, by phone, or by mail.

Donations can be made at SalvationArmy.ca, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769) or by mail: The Salvation Army, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, M4H 1P4