Salvation Army Adult Day Program Participant Gives Back at Christmas

The pre-Christmas rush at the grocery store is in full swing, but above the checkout noise and voices of determined shoppers, Ted Stockdale’s Christmas bells ring loud and clear. Ted is connecting with his community in a new way – as a Christmas kettle volunteer.

Along with his wife, Nancy, Ted has been volunteering at Salvation Army Kettles in Stoney Creek to give back to the Army programs that support him. Ted attends the Adult Day Program at The Salvation Army Winterberry Heights Church, which provides therapeutic recreation, physical exercise, daily meals, attentive personal care to clients living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and adults with disabilities.

Ted is 79 and is living with mixed dementia. He enjoys spending time with others at the Winterberry Program, which he started attending in February. The program meets the needs of clients by providing physical, social and emotional support outside the home through fun and interactive activities and gives a much-needed break to caregivers.

“Everyone needs help. I love watching people put the money in the kettle. The Adult Day Program is going to get this money and it is so beneficial,” Nancy says.

This is the first time Ted and Nancy have worked as Christmas Kettle volunteers, helping The Salvation Army with the important holiday campaign to ensure Salvation Army programs can continue to make a difference in the lives of people across Ontario at Christmas and throughout the year.

“This helps and it does good,” Ted said, pointing to a Christmas Kettle. “I could do this all day and I’m happy when my wife is with me. It’s nice.”

Before the onset of dementia, Ted would spend lots of time woodworking in his shop, making ornately carved animals out of wood and painting on rocks. He and Nancy would also tend to their garden together, planting a wide variety of flowers and vegetables – whatever suited their fancy. Except cucumbers, which were definitely not allowed. Ted doesn’t like cucumbers.

“I like to stand in my garage and putter,” Ted says. His garage is where he goes to organize his woodshop.

Nancy says that volunteering on kettles has been helpful to Ted, providing him an experience to focus on outside of their home. Giving of their time to The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign is something they will do together again to help bring hope to others in need of assistance.

To donate in support of Salvation Army programs and services, please visit www.salvationarmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.