The Salvation Army kicked off their annual kettle drive fundraiser on Friday and they expect big things.
“This year we are going to have 12 kettle locations across the city,” Major Bonita McGory told Moose FM in North Bay’s Midday host Jessica Wernick. “We have five debit machines that will be out at Walmart, Independent, Metro, Sobeys and the LCBO on Algonquin Avenue.”
The debit machines are a fairly new addition to the campaign as they were introduced last year.
“We did a trial run with them and it was successful so this year we got more and we’re hoping it can be even more successful.”
As for the money being raised, it stays in the community and funds organizations like the food bank, Sunday evening meals, the school lunch program, and sending kids to summer camps as well.
“We are hoping for $150,000 on the kettles and $70,000 on the mail outs,” McGory said. “This is our only fundraiser, so we are in your face a bit this time of year but we go away and are quiet for the rest.”