Lawson Ministries Clients Ringing the Kettle Bells

For clients at The Salvation Army Lawson Ministries, volunteering on kettles in Hamilton is becoming a Christmas tradition filled with enjoyment.

For the last few years, clients have been bell ringers on kettles during The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign, and this year is particularly special as it provides an opportunity for clients to get outside, socialize and be part of community. Clients have been volunteering at the Fortinos Supermarket on Main Street since the start of the kettle campaign.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our clients to get into the community. They really enjoy volunteering, and they end up seeing a lot of people that they know. It’s kind of a good way to move forward, because everyone feels really good about themselves afterwards,” says Dallas Walzak, a shift supervisor at The Salvation Army Lawson Ministries, which supports adults living with developmental disabilities.

Participant ages range from 29 to 72, and volunteering in this way plays a vital role in having clients achieve their personal goals.

“Some of our clients had those roles before COVID-19, which interrupted that progress, so volunteering definitely helps them get into that mode again of getting out and going to work so to speak,” Walzak explains. “This type of community involvement really helps with interpersonal development, and everyone has such a wonderful time greeting shoppers.”

Volunteering provides so many positive outcomes, and as a result, Lawson Ministries’ clients will be ringing bells and saying hello to shoppers for many years to come.

“As humans, we all need a certain degree of interaction with our community, and I really appreciate that the kettle program has provided opportunities to our clients to do that during the holiday season,” said Walzak.

The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign runs until Dec. 24 at retailers and shopping malls across Ontario. Donations can also be made online at www.salvationarmy.ca or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.