Salvation Army continues to spread Christmas cheer among children & adults

To ensure children and families across the country have a Merry Christmas, the Salvation Army has utilised the funds accumulated from its Kettle donation campaign and other donations made to that organisation to put smiles on the faces of over 2000 families.
Through this initiative, a total of 1,500 hampers have been donated to families in Georgetown, Bartica, Vergenoegen, Linden, Mahaicony, and New Amsterdam; and close to 500 children have been presented with toys ranging from bicycles to electronic tablets to plush animals, while others have participated in parties.
Further, 500 care packages have been provided to institutions catering to elderly persons, women, and the less fortunate.
In an interview with Guyana Times, Divisional Commander Major Matignol Saint-Lot disclosed that the organization is grateful for the support provided through other avenues.
“Not only we are preaching the word to help them invite Jesus Christ in their life, but we are also concerned about their physical and mental health…so we will preach the gospel and help the less fortunate without discrimination, judgement and pride,” he stated.
Major Saint-Lot explained that funds remaining will go towards the organization’s drug rehab programme, elderly women’s home, and feeding programme. These programmes run all year long, cater to approximately 100 individuals, and their provisions range from providing daily hot meals to clothes to hygiene products and to school supplies, among others.
“We will continue with whatever we have left in our account for the rehab programme. We have our elderly women’s home and we have the feeding programme, of course, where we cook for school children and female citizens. The money will be used for all of these programmes,” Saint-Lot explained.
The kettles were placed at various locations on October 27: Muneshwer’s Limited, National Hardware on Water Street, and Massy Supermarket at Providence, and will be retrieved on December 31.
The Christmas Kettle initiative was first spearheaded in San Francisco, USA by Captain Joseph McFee, to feed 1000 people at Christmas during the year 1891. However, the money was solicited because McFee could not meet his target; but support was provided by religious institutions, and as a result, the activity became global in the Salvation Army thereafter.