Salvation Army Kettle Award

The Rotary Club of Belleville was awarded the prestiigious Bell Ringer Award for the second year in a row for the group or organization providing the most volunteer hours.  Rotary fully manned the Christmas Kettle at the LCBO location at the Quinte Mall for the duration of the Kettle Campaign with 244 volunteer hours by Rotarians and friends of Rotary.  This was accomplished by 65 Rotarians, many doing multiple shifts.  The total collected in this particular kettle was $21,314, the highest of a single kettle location.  The Salvation Army set a goal this year to raise $160,000 with their Christmas Kettle Campaign and for the first time, reached their goal before Christmas.  They are grateful to the community and volunteers such as the Rotary Club of Belleville for helping them surpass their expectations and collecting a total of $178,000.  A sincere thank you was received from the Salvation Army to the Rotary Club of Belleville and each volunteer will receive a certificate of appreciation from them for their contribution to the success of their campaign which allows them to do so much in the community.  Sixteen Rotarians and friends attended the volunteer appreciation dinner on January 11th hosted by the Salvation Army at their headquarters on Bridge Street West.  Jamie Trudeau thanked all Rotarians who contributed volunteer kettle time to make this happen for such an important cause.  The monies raised in this campaign remain in the community and support programs such as the Warm Room at 295 Pinnacle Street, nightly from November 15th to March 15th from 6 - 8:30 p.m. where people can get a free hot meal and fellowship, watch some television or a movie and play games.  The Salvation Army also runs an emergency food bank and distributes winter coats free of charge to anyone who needs one.  During the summer, they financially support sending children to camp.  The lunch and warm room program prepares 300 meals a day for people in the community who gather for warmth and friendship provided by Salvation Army workers and volunteers. Co-ordinating the kettle, cheerfully and willingly is our own Jamie Trudeau, assisted by Chris Finkle.  Without their effort, the Salvation Army would struggle to meet their program commitments.  Thank you to all and God bless!  A special presentation of the Bell Ringer Award to Jamie Trudeau by Abby Mills, Director of the Salvation Army Family Services and Debbie Scott, Co-ordinator of the Kettle Campaign for the Salvation Army.