The Salvation Army continues to serve those in need

By: Aussie Marie Vizcayno

Members of the Salvation Army and the Rotary Club of Windsor 1918 are asking the community to become involved in promoting awareness about poverty.

The Salvation Army held its annual advisory board luncheon at the Caboto Club Nov. 19 in partnership with the Rotary Club of 1918 to highlight the work of the organization over the years. The luncheon included guest speaker, Commissioner Christine Macmillan, retired international director of social justice for the Salvation Army.

Public relations officer for the Salvation Army Perron Goodyear said the Organization has been partnering with the Rotary club for over 20 years to ensure the event is successful. Goodyear said the overall goal of the event is to raise awareness about poverty, to get the community to be more involved as well as launch the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign.

“The event is a great kick off for the Kettle Campaign and this year we are looking to have 18 kettles all throughout Windsor,” said Goodyear.

He also said their goal for this year’s kettle campaign is $250,000 up from the 2011 goal of $240,000.

“We have seen the need to go up throughout the year by 25 per cent so with the needs continually going up that also means our goals for the kettle campaign every year should also go up,” Goodyear said.

The event gets bigger and better every year, said Goodyear.

“We have a full house this year compared to last year,” said Goodyear.

 Approximately $3,000 was raised from the tickets that were bought by people who attended the event this year.

“We hope to continue to get bigger every year to continue to increase the awareness of the event to make more people aware of the services of the Salvation Army,” said Goodyear.

President of the Rotary Club of Windsor Kay Curtis said the event is about partnership with Salvation Army in service to the community.

“Most of us go on in life everyday and some people give and some people don’t. So it’s kind of like at the end of the year we have something to always be grateful for and show appreciation for our own luck,” said Curtis. “This is a good way to give back and help support our community.”

Macmillan said poverty is everywhere and justice is what these people need.

“I want us as a community not just to cover up the good deeds but to create transformation or change from the grass roots deep down from where injustice starts,” said Macmillan.

Macmillan said during her speech she hopes people realize poor people have names, stories and dreams.

 “They are not the objects of our charity,” Macmillan said. “The community should be aware they are people like you and I that will come across difficult times and their dream is not to receive more charity but to participate in the society.”

Macmillan said the Salvation Army and the Rotary Club continue to reach out to the community.

 “I hope their examples challenge our society to be not just giving about resources like food or clothing but to open their eyes and ears to find ways in their vocations and neighbourhood to change those situations in our society that keep people down,” said Macmillan.

Curtis said she wants to see the event to grow bigger and better in the future.

“I would like to see the community to come in more and hope that it will inspire members to give back whether it be for the kettle campaign or other campaign where people can get more involved,” said Curtis.

Ward 8 Coun. Bill Marra said the Salvation Army’s mission over the years is to “share the love of Jesus Christ meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world” and they continue to raise awareness in different ways.

“Certainly we can say in Windsor and Essex County, the Salvation Army does that on a daily basis,” Marra said.