Salvation Army gears up for hampers and kettle drive

By Ken Johnston
Editor

‘Tis the season of giving.
The annual Salvation Army Christmas campaign to help the needy is now underway and efforts in Rainy River are in full steam ahead mode.
Sheri Pirkl at the Service Ontario office (now located at the corner of Fourth St. and Hwy. 11 in Rainy River) is now distributing and accepting applications for Christmas Hampers. They are also a drop-off center for items to be placed in hampers.
Pirkl said that anyone who feels they have a need for a hamper should pick up an application. Applicants will need identification, proof of income and a list of expenses. All information on the application is strictly confidential. The deadline to return the applications is this Friday and Pirkl will be accepting them until 4 p.m. that day.
Every year between 20 and 30 hampers are given out in the Rainy River, Morson and Stratton area. Service Ontario has been the hub for the program in this area for about 32 years when Joe Kaliska first started it at what was then the Northern Affairs office.
Delivery of the hampers to Rainy River usually happens about a week or so before Christmas, thanks to the Rainy River Legion who helps with the cost of that as well as purchases a turkey for each and every one of the local hampers.
People can also donate items for the hampers or adopt a family and sponsor a hamper completely. Each hamper contains two gifts per child (gifts for parents are optional). Sponsorship of a singles family is $130 and a family of four is $200.
Otherwise people can donate non-perishable food stuffs which can be dropped off at Service Ontario in Rainy River. Food items included in each hamper include a turkey, butter, two cans of vegetables, cereal, Christmas oranges, powdered milk, coffee/tea, potatoes, bread and buns, candy/nuts/chocolates, carrots, bacon, eggs, cheese, Christmas dessert, cranberries, turkey stuffing, pancake mix, syrup, pasta, juice, potato chips and cookies.
If anyone has questions about applying for hampers or donating to them they can call Sheri weekdays at 852-3287.
The Salvation Army kettle drive is also beginning this week in Rainy River. Bonne Irvine, who has volunteered for the drive for many years said, “This is a great place for anyone with a little extra cash to help out. There are a lot of needy people out there.”
Irvine said the kettle will be at Beaver Mills Market, the Rainy River Post Office and the Rainy River Legion on a rotating basis from now until Christmas. While she has had help from her husband Tom, Marlene McNally and Pat Berg in the past, Bonne said she is always looking for volunteers to ring the bell and man the kettle. To help the drive out, call her at 852-3381.