The 2019 Salvation Army Kettle Appeal is Officially Launched
This morning in the downtown area of the City, the Salvation Army launched its annual Kettle Appeal ushering in the season for giving. The sounds of the ringing of the red kettle was heard all over as the organization kicked off its prominent charitable event through which it hopes to bring joy at Christmas time to children and their families. The Salvation Army is partnering with Scotia Bank to raise thousands of dollars for the food and gifts drive. News Five’s Duane Moody was on hand for the launch and has the following report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
You know that Christmas is approaching when you hear the ringing bells and see uniformed officers of the Salvation Army in position. Red kettles or pots are placed across the city at supermarkets and other key locations for persons to donate to assist with the humanitarian work of the organization. Today, downtown Albert Street in Belize City was filled with the Christmas vibe as for the fourth consecutive year, Scotia Bank Belize is partnering with Salvation Army, giving a donation of two thousand dollars.
Erwin Arthurs
Erwin Arthurs, Belize City Manager, Scotia Bank
“We know that they will reach the people that we really want to reach. It’s starting to become a tradition for us; we see this as a good way for us to give back. So they have always asked us to support and we always are willing to facilitate them.”
Duane Moody
“How important is this to the work that Scotia Bank does?”
Erwin Arthurs
“It is very important because indirectly this donation will reach people that actually are our customers and by extension, their family members and people that they might really wanted to give to. So indirectly it is us giving on behalf of them as well.”
Kettles will also be placed at the Scotia Bank offices on Albert Street and Belama Branch.
But in 2018, the Salvation Army was about six thousand short of meeting its target of one hundred thousand dollars. With a new district commander in place, Mayor Jonathan Kellman says that the target remains the same. This time, however, they will also be sending out letters for donations.
Jonathan Kellman
Major Jonathan Kellman, District Commander, Salvation Army Belize
“The target for this year is one hundred thousand. It will be in two ways—the kettle appeal and the mail appeal. The letters go out simultaneously with the kettle appeal so people will soon start to see the letters in their mailbox. And this year we actually added our bank account number because some people might just want to do it through online banking. So we are going to start from today and we are going to creep up to December twenty-fourth.”
Former Mayor Darrell Bradley attended the launch to make a donation, while Deputy Mayor Oscar Arnold asked for the public to be generous.
Oscar Arnold
Oscar Arnold, Deputy Mayor, Belize City
“The visitors to our fair city by the sea, everyone who will be downtown shopping and in the environs surrounding the city to please support the kettle appeal by the Salvation Army. While the rest of us go about our shopping and getting all the chores done, we can rest assure that the Salvation Army and their team are working tirelessly to ensure that those that are less fortunate; those who would ordinarily not have a meal for Christmas will enjoy one this Christmas.”
The funds collected are used to host a Christmas luncheon with gifts for hundreds of children; this year, it will be held on December sixth at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall. Hundreds of family also receive food pantry for the Christmas. Major Jonathan Kellman says that they are also looking for volunteers to assist.
Major Jonathan Kellman
“This year we are not just asking for help from the private sector with the actual finances and contribution, but we are asking them to help us on our services days. We have two service days this year: November twenty-third and December fourteenth, where we are asking business houses to put together teams and come out to the kettle spots because people know them and because they see them, it encourages people to give more. Such a great opportunity to touch the lives of many people. And because we look after so many children and adults during the year, this is just another opportunity that we can get really closer. The hearts of people are tender at this time of the year.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
