The Caring Place needs your help.
Donations are down by over $50,000.00 this year for The Salvation Army in Maple Ridge. The annual kettle campaign, as well as the annual mail-out campaign, both fell over $10,000.00 short; leaving The Salvation Army to take a closer look at their 2015/16 program plans. The Salvation Army in Ridge Meadows’ community funded programs provide meals to people who are hungry (including 175 school children daily), basic needs for vulnerable moms and babies, street ministry on Friday evenings, emergency disaster relief support, prison ministry, a nurse practitioner program and so much more.
The 2014 kettle campaign for The Salvation Army Maple Ridge raised $81,000.00, falling $11,000.00 short of the $92,000.00 goal. Although this is an increase (by about $3000.00) from 2013, donations fell short in other areas as well. Donations were down by about $15,000.00 in the yearly mail-out to households throughout Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. This conversely puts pressure on staffing and programming. After much deliberation regarding programs, staffing hours have been reduced for the remainder of 2015, but there are still shortcomings. The Salvation Army has to also consider reducing other planned programming – specifically community drop-in hours and a decrease in the 9000 community meals served monthly to over 500 separate individuals.
For many, loss of programming could mean a lack of success in getting their lives back on track. Nicole A., a former transitional housing client at The Salvation Army says, “Being in this program is like being surrounded by family; we’re all here for the same thing, to fix our lives”. Cutting programming that offers a sense of belonging to all members of our communities, including people struggling with poverty, will make it difficult for them to find a place to go when needed.
“We love, and are thankful for, the wonderful support we get from this community”, says Executive Director Darrell Pilgrim. “It’s our desire to continue to provide the same level of excellent service to our community, but we rely on their support.” You can help by making donations in person at 22188 Lougheed Hwy, or online at www.caringplace.ca. If giving back is a more active affair for you and your families, The Salvation Army is hosting its third annual Coldest Night of the Year walk fundraiser on Saturday, February 21st at 4pm. The Coldest Night is a walk around downtown Maple Ridge that raises funds and awareness for those who live
outside during the coldest months of the year. You can register by visiting www.coldestnightoftheyear.org/mapleridge
