Salvation Army

Record demand met with record generosity at Vernon’s Salvation Army food bank

VERNON - It was a record year for the Salvation Army in Vernon in more ways than one. This year’s annual food bank fundraising drive surpassed all records set during the Salvation Army’s past 110 years in Vernon, Capt. Jean-Curtis Plante says in a media release. Donations reached nearly $458,000 during the Christmas Hope Campaign,...

Spirit of Kelowna volunteers drives the the holiday season

KELOWNA - The giving nature of the holiday season has inspired many people to volunteer their time and money to help those less fortunate, but many organizations rely on volunteers year round and hope those they can recruit at Christmas will keep helping out the rest of the year. The Kelowna Gospel Mission describes volunteers...

How to help give the less fortunate a Christmas meal in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - While you busily prepare your Christmas baking, make last-minute shopping trips, and hastily wrap all your presents, Kamloops charitable organizations want to remind you of those less fortunate this holiday season. These five organizations in Kamloops will be hosting Christmas meals and need your help.  JUMP program and St. Vincent de Paul Society...

Rutland couple doing their part to help Salvation Army reach goal

KELOWNA – A couple who just moved to Kelowna is using their talent for Christmas decorating to help a local charity that is well short of its goal for the season. Ken and Julia Berry live at 875 Theodora Rd. in Rutland. Although new to the Okanagan they are already planning to make a big...

Vernon Food Bank looks to community for helping hand this holiday season

VERNON - The local food bank is calling on the community to help make the holidays bright for the less fortunate. The Salvation Army is launching its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign on Saturday, Nov. 21 and is looking for volunteers. “Christmas should be about celebrating, good memories, and family coming together,” Captain Jean-Curtis Plante says...

How you can get rid of that unpaid parking ticket for the price of a toy

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - For a donated toy you can get your Impark parking ticket waived and brighten a kid's Christmas at the same time. The annual Toys of Tickets event will be held for four hours on Thursday in Kamloops and Kelowna, according to a media release. Just bring a new, unused and unwrapped toy to Salvation...

Salvation Army adjusts Vernon thrift store staffing

VERNON - The Salvation Army is reducing the number of employee positions at its Vernon thrift stores as a way to put more money back into the community. It wasn’t an easy decision, says Captain Jean-Curtis Plante, with the Salvation Army, but it had to be done. The non-profit has been struggling financially since at...

Items left bloodied in break and enter

KAMLOOPS – Monday morning’s break and enter at the Salvation Army Thrift Store will cost the charity more than a window replacement after a suspect cut herself on the glass and bled over several items throughout the store. “Anything with blood had to be disposed of,” Manager Sally Magee says. “You name it she was...

Kettle Campaign stalled by lack of volunteers

PENTICTON - With two days left in the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign, Kettle Coordinator Tricia Dobrik is hoping to bolster volunteer ranks in order to reach this year’s goal. “We barely covered kettle shifts last week, and today we missed three shifts - two at the liquor store and one at Shoppers Drug Mart,” Dobrik...

Get your jingle on; Christmas Kettle campaign underway

KELOWNA – There may not be much snow around to get you into the holiday spirit, but the sound of jingling bells might help as the annual Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign gets underway. Local politicians and celebrities gathered at Kelowna’s Walmart on Friday to take a shift at the kettle outside the department store....

Blanket drive keeps everyone warm this winter

PENTICTON - If you’re keeping warm under a blanket this winter, consider giving an extra to a person in need by donating to the local, annual blanket drive. This is the fifth year of the Cover with Kindness Blanket Drive, which was started by Greg Litwin, a notary public and director of the Soupateria in...

Thieves steal from organization dedicated to helping the poor

KAMLOOPS - The Salvation Army on Tranquille Road was cleaning broken glass this morning after someone allegedly entered the building to steal from their safe overnight. A staff member opening the store in the morning May 13 noticed the broken window and called police. They saw the alarm was disabled and the safe broken into. ...

Unsellable donations costing Salvation Army precious funds

VERNON - The Salvation Army Thrift Shop isn’t always getting a good deal when it comes to donations, especially at this time of year. Instead of being sold for funds, some items actually cost the organization to get rid of. For Salvation Army store manager Gary Rich, it’s a weekly frustration that balloons in the...