Kelowna

Photo: Ragnar Haagen

A donation is made to the kettle campaign outside of Walmart in Kelowna on November 23, 2012

Sounds of the season are in the air once again as bells ring alongside Salvation Army Christmas Kettles.

The annual campaign is seeking contributions -- and every dollar raised in the Central Okanagan is used to help people in the community.

“The money raised in our Christmas kettles and those people that will send us cheques to help the Salvation Army or even donate on line, that carries us through the entire year,” says Ron Cartmell with the Salvation Army.

“And so this is a critical time for us. It helps with our food hampers and things we provide right now, but it also carries us through the entire year and the programs that we run. We raise about 95 per cent of our money during the holiday season.

One person whose life the campaign has changed is 32-year old Angela Stadnyk, who says the Salvation Army helped turn her life around.

“A year ago I was leaving a relationship. And facing the world as a single mom can be really scary,” she says.

“They really helped me get to a place where I was OK.  I was stable and I was secure emotionally, physically and financially.”

Now Stadnyk works with the Salvation Army and says she has the confidence to live life again.

“I’m proud to work for the Salvation Army because being on the other side, I understand the struggles and seeing some of the faces that come through, I can really identify with how they’re feeling; There is a light at the end of the tunnel as long as you utilize the programs, you can make it work."

Money raised by the Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign help pay for programs that help families throughout the year.

“The donations are so much appreciated,” says Stadnyk. “It changes lives and it gives hope.”

To find our more about the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign click here.