Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign back for another season
Posted Nov 12, 2025 11:45:11 AM.
Last Updated Nov 12, 2025 12:30:29 PM.
With that holiday spirit starting to fill the air once again across Waterloo Region, one of its largest fundraisers is kicking off for another season.
The Salvation Army in Kitchener is launching its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign. The campaign, highlighted by the notable red Christmas kettles, is hoping to bring funds towards local programs, focused on bringing food and emergency assistance to individuals and families throughout the course of the year.
Captain Cory Fifield, Corps Officer and Executive Director with The Salvation Army Kitchener, said that over the last few years, they’ve been able to help as many families as they can, including over 5,000 kids through their Christmas Toy Assistance program.
“The reality is that’s because that’s as many as we can handle, not because that’s meeting the need,” Fifield said. “Every year, we do what we can to meet as many people as we can, but the need is actually greater than what we’re able to provide for.”
This year, the Kitchener Salvation Army said it hopes to raise $175,000 specifically through its Christmas Kettle Campaign, the same amount that was able to be raised during last year’s campaign.
That money is a portion of what the Salvation Army is hoping to raise this year, looking to fully add $250,000 across its list of programs and campaigns, after raising $284,000 last Christmas season.
“It’s the time of year where we both get to experience the generosity of our community, but we also get to give back because the reality is that in about six weeks, we do significant support to our community through our toy assistance. Then we’re also at the same time asking people to support what we do so that we can continue all throughout the year.”
Those 13 Christmas kettles will be able to be found at grocery stores, including Zehrs locations, Sobey’s, Costco, local liquor stores, Fairview and Conestoga malls, as well as other key locations across the city throughout the course of the campaign.
“There’s so much happening every day, so many incredible volunteers that are in our building helping us sort supplies, assisting with connecting families with toys,” Fifield mentioned. “It’s just incredible to see the community come together to help us not just give support, but also give that support back to us so we can continue all through the year.”
The campaign is officially set to kick off on Thursday, Nov. 13, set to raise donations through to Dec. 24.
The full list of details, including where to volunteer in various positions across the Christmas season through the Salvation Army, can be found on the organization’s website.
