FORT ST. JOHN - The Fort St. John Salvation Army has announced the results of its 2024 Christmas Kettle Bell Campaign.
The charity exceeded its ‘ambitious goal’ of raising $150,000, confirming in a social media post that donations for the annual initiative came in at $152,000.
“The Fort St. John Salvation Army extends its heartfelt gratitude to all donors and volunteers who made this year’s campaign a resounding success,” said the Salvation Army on Facebook.
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However, the amount is shy of the nearly $160,000 raised in 2023 when the target set for that year was $135,000.
The funds will support the organization’s Community and Family Services branch, which includes its food bank, through 2025.
Over the holiday season, the Salvation Army was also able to distribute 194 food hampers and 294 toy hampers, making Christmas possible for 588 residents.
In 2023, there were approximately 16,000 visits to their Fort St. John food bank, according to the campaign’s coordinator.
The charity’s latest Canadian Poverty and Socioeconomic Analysis predicts that food bank numbers will continue to rise across the country, especially among parents with young children, who have been hard-hit by cost of living and food-related challenges.