The Salvation Army announced it has surpassed its fundraising goal for the 2017 Bulkey Valley kettle campaign.
Heading into the final week of the campaign the Salvation Army was actually $15,000 short of their goal, but thanks to a $9,000 donation from an anonymous donor and a last minute fundraising push they raised just over $76,000 — $16,000 more than their goal of $60,000.
“By not just meeting our targets but surpassing our targets it really helps us look at how we can expand the services that we provide,” said Bulkley Valley Salvation Army community ministries director Tim Sharp.
“We’re going to continue to look at different ways to expand and different ways we could better utilize our resources.”
Sharp said money raised from initiatives like the kettle campaign were used to launch their weekend backpack program and lunch program for Muheim Memorial Elementary School and Walnut Park Elementary School.
The lunch program provides lunches to children in need at the two schools from Monday to Friday. The Salvation Army gives the aforementioned schools backpacks filled with food to disperse to children and their families who are in need over the weekend.
Sharp said the Salvation Army bought new fridges, freezers and shelving thanks to grants it received from Foodbanks B.C. and Foodbanks Canada.
The charity received the fridges and freezers Dec. 22.