THE MANAGEMENT and staff of The Gleaner Co. Ltd. will be supporting the Salvation Army in its annual Christmas Kettle Drive tomorrow.
Members of The Gleaner team will be at strategic selling locations from 6.30 a.m. to 8 a.m., encouraging customers to buy the newspaper and/or make a donation to the Salvation Army officer stationed on location with the team members.
The company will donate to the Salvation Army $2 from each copy of The Gleaner sold on December 2.
"We really need this money to change the quality of the lives of countless persons across the island," said Major Devon Haughton, divisional commander of the Salvation Army in Eastern Jamaica.
"The Salvation Army has a programme that feeds street people, funds AIDS hostels such as the one at Peter's Lane (downtown King-ston), and we provide 700 meals daily and distribute to those in need with assistance from Food for the Poor. We help fire victims, and in times of major disaster, we co-ordinate with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to help the victims," Major Haughton said.
Last year, more than $3 million was generated in the region of Eastern Jamaica during the Kettle campaign with an additional $1.1 million going into its coffers from Western Jamaica.
"With cash donations as well as the donations of clothing and other items, we realised close to $5 million. This year, we're hoping to generate $5 million cash because the demands are greater," said Major Haughton. "We operate several basic schools, day-care centres, clinics, homes for the aged, and the visually impaired, and the disabled, and children's homes. We need this money to bring Christmas cheer to those who are hurting or are in need. This is the Salvation Army's most expensive time of the year."
