Salvation Army Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corp presents annual Bell Ringer Awards
Smiths Falls Junior A Bears players, Hayden Hart (left) and Hunter Garlasco (right), accept the Youth Trophy from Salvation Army Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corp Major Laurie Reilly (centre) at the 2017 Bell Ringer Award on Wednesday, Feb. 14. The Bears collected $1374.80 at their kettles this season. – Evelyn Harford/Metroland
Salvation Army Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corp Major Laurie Reilly (left) presents the Perth Lions Club with the trophy for the Best Performance by a Service Club at the 2017 Bell Ringer Awards on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Pictured here, Perth Lions Club President Joyce Firlotte (centre) and Lion Ed Firlotte. The Perth Lions raised $4,499.80. – Evelyn Harford/Metroland
Salvation Army Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corp Major Laurie Reilly (left) presents Carleton Place OPP Sgt. Rob Croth (right) with the trophy for Best Performance by an Emergency Service Group at the 2017 Bell Ringer Awards on Wednesday, Feb. 14. – Evelyn Harford/Metroland
Salvation Army Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corp Major Laurie Reilly (left) presented Ralph Shaw (right) of Century 21 Explorer Realty Inc. in Perth with the trophy for Best Performance in the Small Business category at the 2017 Bell Ringer Awards on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Century 21 Explorer Realty Inc. in Perth raised $1,193.95 through the kettles. – Evelyn Harford/Metroland
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The Salvation Army Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corp gave thanks to their many volunteers who completed hundreds of volunteer hours to help fill the kettles during the 2017 Kettle Campaign — the major fundraiser for the charity. Through the kettles this past season, $244,416.85 was raised locally — just $93.15 less than the year before — despite the organization’s struggle with declining volunteer numbers.
FUNDS RAISED DURING THE 2017 CAMPAIGN
• Letter Campaign: $92,299.33
• Carleton Place/Almonte: $59,533.64
• Smiths Falls: $54,051.87
• Perth: $37,553.67
• Merrickville: $978.34
• Grand total: $244,416.85
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
The money raised through the kettles during the holidays goes toward funding Low-Income Energy Assistance Program applications — a process that the Salvation Army guides people through to get relief on their hydro bills, fuel cost relief and advocacy, their emergency food bank, emergency clothing and furniture, relocations and temporary housing, community lunches and special occasions, kids summer camp, as well as Christmas Hampers and Angel Trees.
