Major Henry Bingle
Salvation Army donations down
Needy families require help
The Queens and Shelburne counties Salvation Army kettle campaign brought in much less money than usual, but Liverpool church cleric, Major Henry Bingle is still optimistic residents will make up the difference.
“We were down $4,000 or $5,000 which is quite a bit. It’s about 20 per cent.”
He expects the lower donation amount is related to uncertainty in the economy, especially the forestry and forestry-manufacturing sectors.
At the moment, he says, “We won’t have as much to give out. What we collect in the kettle at Christmas time is what we use during the year to help needy families with food and so on. It’s going to be hard to meet the demand, which is very great in this area.”
However, their ongoing partnership with Nova Scotia Power Inc.’s Good Neighbour Program Energy Fund, which helps people with all forms of energy, not just electricity, will start about mid-January.
Applications for Queens and Shelburne counties will be available at the Liverpool church office. The address for persons that cannot travel to Liverpool is P.O. Box 512, Liverpool, N.S., B0T 1K0. The telephone number is 354-3265. Donations can also be made through these avenues.
The Halifax office of the Salvation Army distributes the funds for Nova Scotia Power.
Major Bingle also hopes an oil company will donate some of the now expensive fuel, as occurred before.
Major Bingle says he believes residents will help make up the difference in the weeks and months ahead so that no unemployed or under-employed family or needy children from the two counties go without.
“We depend on the generosity of the people and we appreciate all donations.”
The community Christmas Cheer Program was a success this year, for example, he says, despite a large increase in demand.
“We helped 250 families and 180 children with food and toys. It went up and the cost skyrocketed. The program cost over $20,000 and that’s just for food, not toys.”
He explains many of the toys are donated although some are purchased.
Last year, the program served about 180 families.
In Shelburne Co., the program served 60 families this year. “We’re very pleased with the program,” Major Bingle says.
“We can always count on people to come through and the other churches and organizations are on board at Christmas time. It’s a community thing and it involves all denominations, not just the Salvation Army.
