A Letter Of Thanks From Our Divisional Commander
The gifts have been opened, the table has been cleared and for some it comes with a sigh of contentment and for those who have been caught up in the busyness of the season, it is a well- deserved sigh of relief that it is over. For more people than we like to think about there is a sigh of despair as the next year is contemplated.
Retail sales are up and UPS gave late delivery because they grossly underestimated the number of deliveries based on last year’s projections. It was not the trend we had been seeing over the years and not the one we expected in these days of economic down turn. There were other changes this year. People who usually donate to The Salvation Army at Christmas found themselves booking an appointment to make application for a Christmas hamper. These were the people whose jobs came under the hammer with our drop in oil prices, the ones who due to sickness or injury have lost their income and the vulnerable who have been poll vaulted into poverty by a marriage separation or divorce. Income comes and goes but bills just seem to pile up and so to ease the tension Christmas for many was only made possible, through the generosity of you, the donor.
This Christmas we saw more than a 50% increase in the number of families that looked to The Salvation Army for assistance. An amazing team of staff and volunteers worked hard to ensure everyone would have a bountiful Christmas. Throughout Alberta we have seen the generosity of the public rise to the occasion of Christmas and the reality that while we only celebrate one day the need is there the other 364 days as well.
Over 2000 years ago a star over Bethlehem signalled hope to that generation. Christmas is a time of hope and through your support we were able to rekindle the light of hope for this generation. My hope was encouraged as I rang the bell at the Red Kettle and people would drop money into the kettle and say, “this has been a difficult year for me, but others have it far worse and so I need to dig a little bit deeper.”
We want to thank you for being an important part of Christmas at The Salvation Army this year.
If you came to us needing a hand we want to thank you for allowing us to journey with you in this difficult time.
If you were able to share through donations and volunteering this year we want to thank you for being a light bearer and bringing hope to others. Together we made a difference.
