The Saskatoon Salvation Army is seeing the need in the community from the affects of the pandemic in its Christmas hamper program.

Major Judy Regamey says they usually get around 2,400 applications for the hampers and toys for the kids, but at this point they are at around 6,500.  At the same time, the Christmas Kettle campaign is much smaller than in past years with 8 kettles in the city as opposed to the usual 24.

The money from the campaign supports the Christmas hampers, which this year are gift cards for safety reasons around COVID-19 and the handling of food.  The kettles to date have raised about $100,000 but the Salvation Army usually receives about $300,000 during the Christmas season.

Regamey says there are two kettles at each of the city’s Walmarts and one at each Costco.

You can also donate through a virtual kettle.

Walmart Canada is also hosting the 11th annual “Fill the Kettle Day Saturday.  Walmart is one of two corporations hosting manned kettles in this COVID-19 year and will match donations made to its Salvation Army Christmas kettles located in its stores nationwide up to a maximum of $100,000.