Christmas Kettles - A great way to give back to your community!
[Thank you for your generous support this year! We hope to see you all again next year at various Kettle locations in Vancouver! ]
This year, the Christmas Kettle Campaign for the Vancouver Area will operate from Nov 17 to Dec 23, 2023.
- Three Shifts a day: There are usually three 3-hour shifts, first shift running between 10:00am – 1:00pm, second from 1:00pm – 4:00pm and third from 4:00pm – 7pm in which the Kettle Hosts will be on location. This can vary depending on location traffic and Kettle Host availability
- Presence of the Kettle Hosts: Each kettle stand will be occupied by 1-3 Kettle Hosts at a location
The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign is one of Canada’s largest and most recognizable annual charitable events. In addition to the critical fundraising impact of the Campaign, the Christmas kettles boost the Army’s visibility and awareness. In fact, there are more than 2,000 kettle locations across Canada that support a wide range of Salvation Army programs.
We welcome individual, groups, corporations, businesses, clubs, organizations, and teams to support The Salvation Army programs and services by giving your time to host a kettle in your community throughout the duration of the campaign or just for a day! A sign can even be created for the kettle stand recognizing your group's partnership with The Salvation Army.
Volunteer
BECOME A BELL RINGER
- Flexible shifts with no long-term commitment
- Easy, fun and rewarding
- Pick your hours and your days
Christmas Kettle Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign is a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season. Kettles are found in 2,000 locations across Canada and are an opportunity for the public to donate whatever funds they can to support the work of The Salvation Army during the Christmas season and throughout the year.
For too many Canadians, the necessities of life needed for basic human dignity are out of reach. Poverty is the root cause that puts dignity out of reach for millions of Canadians, making access to everyday needs, like food, clothing and shelter, difficult.
Funds raised through donations made at Christmas kettles, together with other sources of funds, help provide direct, compassionate, hands-on service to over 1.9 million people each year in Canada, restoring hope and dignity to those who might otherwise remain invisible in society.
While Salvation Army Christmas kettles can be found all across Canada, and around the world, each Christmas kettle location is organized and managed by a local Salvation Army unit. The funds raised stay in the community in which they were donated and are used to support local Salvation Army programs for people in need.
In 1891, Captain Joseph McFee wanted to help the help the vulnerable in San Francisco, especially during the Christmas season, but he didn’t know where to get funding to do so. He remembered, during his earlier days in Liverpool, England, seeing a large kettle where passengers of boats that docked nearby were able to toss coins to help the poor. Captain McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing, and encouraged the public to “Keep the Pot Boiling.” He collected enough to host a Christmas dinner for the poor.
The first time a kettle was used in Canada was in Toronto in 1903.
A Bell Ringer is someone who stands beside the iconic Salvation Army Christmas Kettle and receives donations from passers-by. They ring bells where permitted to subtly remind people of those in need at Christmas in our community. Kettles are typically located in malls and outside retail stores from Nov 17 to Dec 23, 2023
Bell Ringers typically stand by a kettle 3 hours at both indoor and outdoor locations. Ideally, it is best if volunteers commit to volunteering regularly throughout the course of the Christmas Kettle Campaign which runs from Nov 17 to Dec 23, 2023.