FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- You can always tell when the holidays are near; decorations start lighting the stores, people move a little faster with all there is to do, and everywhere you go you see the distinctive red kettles and their sweetly tinging bells manned by the happy volunteers for The Salvation Army.

On November 23rd, 2012, those volunteers will begin the 2012 Kettle Campaign, standing at Dolly Madison, Sawyers, Kellys, Butlers, Cost Right and both Solomons locations. Volunteers include those members of local service clubs and organisations that come out each year to assist in this major campaign.

According to Captain Roger Compton, “This is the biggest fund raiser for us each year. The time when we raise money not only for our Christmas Parcel Program but also for our Emergency Pantry that is available year round.”

Last year the Christmas Parcel Program was able to assist 410 families with food products to last for two weeks (according to the size of their families). They also were able to assist those persons on the Red Cross Meals-on-Wheels program for the days that they would be without a cooked meal. As well, they distributed personal hygiene kits to three nursing facilities and shut-ins including socks and tissues as an additional Christmas gift for each.

The total number of persons assisted in 2011 was over 1600. “But that isn’t the only way that we are able to help,” stated Captain Compton. “We also provide year round assistance through our food pantry program; hot meals, showers and clothing to those that are homeless; aid for fire victims, help in hurricanes, and so much more.”

This year, The Salvation Army is hoping to raise $34,000.00 over the holiday season. It is an increase from last year, but Captain Compton is hopeful that the community will be as generous as they have been in the past and give either through the red kettles that are in the community or through the mailings that are sent out to the previous donors. Captain Compton also reminds the public that they accept donations at their location on West Atlantic Drive.