The Salvation Army Red Kettle: A long-lasting Christmas tradition

Christmas is all about sharing and caring, but the sad truth is that many persons, including children, are deprived of the festive celebration not because they are naughty, but because of financial constraints. For over a century, the Salvation Army has been helping those in need by providing them with basic necessities.
And through its traditional Red Kettle Campaign, the Salvation Army has been able to raise thousands of dollars to provide for the less fortunate with hot meals, clothing, crisply wrapped toys and other social services, especially around Christmas time.

The campaign usually starts a month before Christmas and volunteers would be seen positioned at busy downtown locations ringing a bell, urging passersby to drop a little spare change in the kettle.
During an interview, Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army, Major Matignol Saint-Lot, explained that the funds acquired from the campaigns are used to carry out a food parcel distribution which is extended to all the Salvation Army branches in Guyana.

He said that to be the recipient of hampers containing mainly food supplies, persons would have to go through a registration process.
The Salvation Army has branches at East La Penitence, Alexander Street, Wortmanville, Queenstown and Bent Street, all in Georgetown. It also has branches at Mahaicony, Linden, Vergenoegen on the East Bank of Essequibo, and in New Amsterdam, Berbice. There is also a branch on the Essequibo Coast.
According to Major Saint-Lot, during the Christmas season, the Salvation Army would visit the Salvation Army Men’s Social Centre, the Georgetown Public Hospital, the Salvation Army Women’s Home, the Dharm Shala, and the Palms.
“When we go there, we sing carols, we tell Christmas stories, and offer persons a package of love because it is Christmas…”
It is also customary for the Salvation Army to visit inmates of the Camp Street, Georgetown prison, visiting them on Boxing Day to spread Christmas cheer. There, volunteers would interact with prisoners by sharing motivational speeches. Major Saint-Lot also revealed that the Salvation Army would host Christmas brunches and parties for those who are a part of the youth and elderly groups of the organization.
At these activities, gifts, tokens, and goodie bags are distributed.
“We want everybody to know that Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ. So, we just want to share the same love to everyone that God has extended to us,” he added. He emphasised that this would not have been possible without the donations from the kettle campaign, and for this reason, he always encourages persons to give.
Also, after all the Christmas activities are hosted, monies remaining from the Red Kettle campaign are used to feed school children and anyone who needs assistance throughout the year.
Major Saint-Lot confessed that he loves feeding the homeless.
Major Saint-Lot has expressed gratitude to the many government agencies and businesses that have, over the years, been making donations in cash or kind. The Salvation Army itself raises its own monies through various fundraising activities. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salvation Army was able to successfully carry out most of its activities.
Major Saint-Lot and his wife, Mireille, were appointed Divisional Leaders to Guyana on July 17, 2017. They hail from Haiti and have three lovely daughters.

Christmas Angel
Tree Program
A few days before Christmas, the Salvation Army launched its first-ever “Christmas Angel Tree Program”. The programme saw 70 children receiving electronic tablets to assist in online classes during the school closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Edward Boyer, urged the children to take good care of the tablets and to ensure that they are utilised for the purpose intended.
Additionally, Boyer expressed special thanks to the sponsors who have supported the Salvation Army throughout the year, as well as Major Matignol Saint-Lot for accomplishing their goal of bringing joy to the children.
Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcel Hutson lauded the Salvation Army for this much-needed initiative and the relief efforts towards those in need. Dr. Hutson noted the importance of building capacity among young people, enabling them to take up leadership positions.
A commitment was given for this to be an annual initiative.
The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 in London, and is a Protestant Christian Church. It is also an international charitable organisation that assists many families in Guyana. It has a presence in more than 130 countries around the world.
Some of its community and social services include hunger relief for individuals and families through food banks and feeding programmes; shelter for the homeless; support for those needing housing; rehabilitation for those struggling with addiction, and long-term care and palliative care.
Christmas assistance such as food hampers and toys; after-school programmes, camps, and school nutrition programmes for children and youth; and life-skills classes such as budgeting, cooking for a family, and anger management are also included.