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(From information on the Salvation Army website)
In 1891, Captain Joseph McFee wanted to help the help the vulnerable in San Francisco, especially during the Christmas season, but he didn’t know where to get funding to do so. He remembered, during his earlier days in Liverpool, England, seeing a large kettle where passengers of boats that docked nearby were able to toss coins to help the poor. Captain McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing, and encouraged the public to “Keep the Pot Boiling.” He collected enough to host a Christmas dinner for the poor.
Today, the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign is a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season. Kettles are found in 2000 locations across Canada and are an opportunity for the public to donate whatever funds they can to support the work of The Salvation Army during the Christmas season and throughout the year.
The first time a kettle was used in Canada was in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1906.
Our District includes Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward island and St.-Pierre et Miquelon. Wherever you go in our District at this time of year Rotarians and Rotary clubs volunteer their time to help with the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign. In some areas the clubs volunteer separately, in others, like the Valley, the clubs coordinate their volunteer efforts.
Rotary and the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles - a great tradition of service.