With Christmas approaching, the Salvation Army is once again setting up shop around Thompson to solicit donations.
"It'll be here for the next few weeks," says Major Linda Mailman. The kettles will be set up at City Centre Mall, the Thompson Plaza, and the Liquor Mart. Mailman says that the kettles will be available for the next few weeks on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, followed by a pre-Christmas blitz from Dec. 21-24.
The Salvation Army are looking for volunteers to man the kettles, and Mailman urges anybody interested in helping out to contact the church.
"It goes towards helping the people in the community with food, emergency shelter, those sorts of things," says Mailman.
The Salvation Army is also running its annual Christmas hamper and toy drive campaigns again this year. In 2009, donations through the kettles totaled $13,342 - an $856 increase over 2008.
Majors Ron and Linda Mailman moved to Thompson in July, taking over the Thompson chapter of the Salvation Army from Majors Grayling and Jacqueline Crites, who left on medical leave.
"We've only been here a short time, but I always tell people to ask me after the winter," laughs Linda when asked how she likes Thompson so far.
