Sally Ann falling short of Christmas fundraising target in Central Okanagan

KELOWNA – With only seven days to go in its annual Christmas Campaign in the Central Okanagan, the Salvation Army is $313,000 short of its $800,000 target for this year.

The money is needed to help the needy throughout the year, not just at Christmas, according to a Salvation Army media release.

“Over these past weeks, almost 600 local families have walked through our doors looking for help and hope,” Pastor Darryl Burry with the Salvation Army said in the release. “Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have been able to meet those needs. But there are still others coming to see us every day, and the needs will still be there after Christmas.

“The funds that we raise at Christmas support our programs and services throughout the entire year – from individual and family support programs, emergency food hampers, services for seniors and our disaster relief efforts.”

Many of those seeking help are families where parents are working full-time but they just can’t make ends meet or seniors on tight budgets, Community Ministries coordinator Sonia Withers said in the release.

Funds are being collected in Christmas kettles throughout the city, at all Salvation Army facilities and online at www.kelownasalvationarmy.ca.

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