The Salvation Army officially kicked off its annual Christmas kettle campaign Monday morning with a flag-raising ceremony at the South Windsor Citadel, launching a six-week fundraising push aimed at supporting local families in need. The organization has set a $250,000 goal, slightly higher than last year’s target of $240,000. Despite early concerns in 2024, the campaign ultimately surpassed expectations, something staff hope to repeat. “We launched today. Excited. This is the first time we’ve done it at the Citadel,” exclaimed Major David Bond, corps officer of the South Windsor Citadel. “We thought it’d be a great idea to be able to raise our flag here… just a great way to kick it off and create some excitement and get the ball rolling for this year’s campaign.” Bond said the Salvation Army is confident donors will once again step up, especially as cold weather arrives. “We’re expecting the same as soon as the snow hits. We know it’ll be great.” The organization said the need for support continues to grow, with more people turning to its food bank and community programs. “I think that it’s safe to say we’re seeing many more people use our food bank and food insecurity has become a real issue,” stressed Jason Linton, executive director of the Salvation Army Windsor Centre for Hope. “There are some struggles in our community, and the donations that come in through our kettle — they’ll go directly into our food bank and services… every dollar that’s donated in Windsor stays in Windsor.” Linton said there are 15 kettle locations across the city this year, positioned mainly in high-traffic shopping areas. Donations can also be made online or in person at any Salvation Army location. Volunteer recruitment is also underway, with the group still looking to fill early-season shifts. “You can call our kettle hotline — the number is on our social media,” Bond said. “High school students, seniors, anybody who can give a bit of time, we would appreciate it.” Bond noted the kickoff marks the unofficial start of the holiday season for volunteers and donors alike. “It’s great to see the kettles go out… it kind of kicks off the Christmas season and creates that anticipation and excitement that everybody just loves.”
