Kettle appeal signals opening of Christmas Season

Even in the best of times, there is a lot of hardship in Belize…and with the economy bracing for a government induced slowdown in the new year, the needs of society’s less fortunate members will only increase. That’s why we’ll front tonight’s news with a subject appropriate to both the times and the season: charity…and the one organisation that never seems to forget its important mission.

Patrick Jones, Reporting

The familiar sound of bells on Albert Street marks the start of the Salvation Army?s annual Christmas fund raising drive. Regional Commander Major Errol Robateau says this year?s Kettle appeal aims to reach thousands of people in Belize City and Cayo.

Major Errol Robateau, Regional Commander

?We are aiming to feed a thousand children this year. We also would like to do some institutions and some of the elderly in the various areas where we serve, as well as other areas as the need is. We are not setting a financial target in that; I have no basis to go on for last year. But I can only think of when I was here last eight years ago that we raised between ten or twelve thousand. We are not sure what we will raise this year. We are coming out in faith.?

But more than faith, these soldiers and volunteers will give of their time daily from now until Christmas Eve, to make the holidays a bit more cheerful for shut ins, the elderly, the sick and the homeless. Along with the kettle appeal, today the Army simultaneously launched a toy drive.

Major Errol Robateau

?We are asking the public to bring in a toy and help a child. And that toy can be a new toy or it can also be a used toy in good condition. Sometimes families have more toys than they can use. They can bring it in and you are not limited to one toy, you can bring is as many as you have in your house.?

This year, the Army is getting a little help from the media, specifically Channel 5.

Stewart Krohn, Managing Director, Channel 5

?This year we are doing something a little bit different. As you may know we usually do around this time of year, our Gimme 5 promotion. This year we are going to give Gimme 5 a rest to do something we think is a little more bit important. We are working with the Salvation Army and what we are going to be doing is on a number of days between now and Christmas, we will actually be going out to different locations where they have the kettles in Belize City and we are going to show people that gives, we are going to put them on TV if they wish and allow them to give a special Christmas greeting. Those greetings will then be broadcast all during the Christmas Season on Channel 5. There is absolutely no charge involved in this and it will give a nice boost to the Salvation Army and let the people of Belize know that their fellow Belizeans really care.?

?One additional thing we?re doing for business houses, that–let?s say–want to give a special, large contribution, what we are asking to them to do is say look, give us a call to Channel 5?-they can call me personally–and we will arrange to go to their place of business and actually record their staff or their spokesperson giving their Christmas greeting to the rest of Belize over the television.?

The kettles will be located at Brodies and Romac?s on Albert Street, the Angelus Press on Queen Street, Save U and Malic?s store located opposite Novelo?s Bus Terminal in Belize City. Salvationists under the leadership of new Commanding Officers in Georgeville, Captain and Mrs. Mark Gilden, will also set up kettles in Belmopan and San Ignacio. Robateau says the presence of the red kettles on the streets cannot be overstated.

Major Errol Robateau

?Well I think the significance is hope for the needy. There a lot of people who are looking to the Salvation Army. We are like their Santa Clause. And they come to us because they trust the Salvation Army to help them, and we feel bad when we have to turn one away and say we can?t help you because we don?t have it. And for this reason we depend on the public and so we ask them to help us so that we will be help them not only here at Christmas time but also throughout the year.?

Again, we invite the public to give generously and for business houses to take advantage of some free publicity.