A gentleman by the name of William Carter got off a boat in Curling and the Salvation Army was here.
For the past 100 years, the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle has been collecting to help people in the Corner Brook - Bay of Islands area. The kettle campaign officially kicked off yesterday morning with the opening of the Gingerbread House at the Valley Mall. Major Brian Wheeler says the Christmas Kettle campaign started in San Francisco in 1891, when the Salvation Army noticed there were people on the streets who did not have enough to eat so they put a put out to collect money for them. Major Wheeler says the campaign came to Newfoundland in 1906 and has grown to over 2,000 locations across Canada. He says a gentleman by the name of William Carter got off a boat in Curling and the Salvation Army was here. Major Wheeler says in those 100 years the Salvation Army has been reaching out to those who need help. Major Wheeler says the need continues with over 200 individuals coming through the doors of the Salvation Army in October needing food, accomodations, transportation and more. The Christmas Kettle can be found at 5 locations throughout Corner Brook. Major Wheeler says the goal this year is to raise $100,000 which stays here to help the community throughout the year. They are also looking for volunteers.