Volunteering at a Kettle is a New Holiday Tradition for Father and Daughter

Angelo Martini has worked for The Salvation Army Thrift Store for over half a decade. He is the warehouse supervisor at the thrift store’s Distribution and Recycling Centre in Oakville, Ont.

“Being within the culture of The Salvation Army and everything they do; you realize the importance of your work. It’s great to know that what you are doing means something. Not everybody can say that about what they do for a living,” Angelo says.

Last year, as the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign approached, Angelo decided to further his commitment to The Salvation Army by volunteering at a local kettle.

“In the past, I would always get emails about kettle volunteering, and I would say ‘Well, somebody will volunteer’, but last year I said ‘You know what, why don’t I volunteer! I always wait for others to volunteer’,” he says.

“It is such a great experience to volunteer and see the generosity of people in the community.”

Angelo was not alone during his kettle shift; his daughter, Christina, was there with him. This companionship helped him appreciate the experience even more.

“The experience of volunteering was positive enough but being able to share that with my daughter was fantastic. It was the icing on the cake,” Angelo shares.

During their two-hour shift, Angelo and Christina had a wonderful time. While collecting donations, they interacted with people and listened to stories from individuals who had benefited from The Salvation Army’s services. They enjoyed the shift so much that they are making it a family tradition.

“It is such a great experience to volunteer and see the generosity of people in the community, some of whom have benefited from the Kettle Campaign themselves,” Christina says. “Volunteering puts me in the Christmas spirit and is now a fun tradition I get to share with my dad.”

Thanks to the positive feedback from many of the donors he encountered, Angelo feels even more proud about his role with The Salvation Army. He urges people to volunteer at a kettle.

“Volunteering puts me in the Christmas spirit.”

“If you haven’t done it, I would recommend it, and if you can do it with a loved one, all the better.”

Just before Christmas, Angelo and Christina will take part in their new family tradition.This year, knowing what to expect, they are coming more prepared than ever.

“We are going to get all dressed up. I am going to get myself an ugly Christmas sweater to keep up the tradition. We might even sign up for more shifts, and maybe get my other daughter involved,” Angelo shares.

By Juan Romero