Sally Ann kettles allowed back at Liquor Marts after giving drops

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This article was published 13/12/2018 (1958 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries has decided to allow Salvation Army Christmas kettles back into its stores over the holiday season.

Maj. Rob Kerr of the Salvation Army said he received the news Thursday, a day after the Free Press reported the charity was struggling to reach its seasonal fundraising goal, in large part because of the fact it wasn’t allowed to place kettles in Liquor Marts this month.

“We are very appreciative of this offer,” Kerr said. “Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries said to me that they had never wanted to cause us any hardship and they are doing what they can to help us and we are appreciative of that.”

Kerr said the decision is only for this year. The Crown corporation told him the kettles will not be allowed in Liquor Marts next year.

Last year, $60,000 was put into the kettles in liquor stores in Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie and Thompson. The Crown corporation informed the charity the kettles would no longer be allowed in the stores earlier this year. It caused a drastic drop in donations.

“The Salvation Army informed us this week that they were not seeing positive results for their Christmas Kettles Campaign and were struggling to meet their financial goals. As a result, a decision was made to reinstate the volunteer-staffed kettles in participating Liquor Marts for this year,” the Crown corporation said in a statement.

“We continue to be very grateful for our good relationship with the Salvation Army and appreciate their co-operation during the past few weeks. We hope this change will result in a more positive response to their Christmas Kettle fundraising campaign.”

Kerr said while the decision creates a challenge for the charity. Other businesses have agreed to allow the kettles on their property, so Kerr said it will take time to get the kettles back in liquor stores.

Kerr said he hopes the decision will help the charity reach its fundraising goal of $370,000 by Dec. 24.

So far, it has raised $197,000.

danton.unger@freepress.mb.ca