Art for the Kettles

Our Art for the Kettles is a fund-raising art auction being held as part of our 2019 Christmas Kettle Campaign.
There are two works of art up for auction.
Fort McMurray-based artist Tiffany Antinozzi created Reaching Out specifically for our kettle campaign. It is a 16x20 acrylic on canvas. The message of the painting is one of hope, reflecting The Salvation Army’s goal of being a transformational influence offering hope, belief and possibility.
The goal for this original work of art is $500.
Tiffany, also known as The Artsy Oiler because of her work with essential oils, has also donated a set of nine art cards she has created. The cards come complete with envelopes. Eight of the cards are blank inside and the ninth card has a Warrior’s Prayer written on the inside. All cards have a saying on the back. The art on the cards are prints of some of Tiffany’s original works.
The goal for the art cards is $100.
The annual Christmas Kettle Campaign is a critical fund-raiser for our Community and Family Services department which offers practical assistance to vulnerable families and individuals in Fort McMurray.
All funds raised during the campaign stay in Fort McMurray to assist Community and Family Services all year.

The Salvation Army has been in Fort McMurray since 1979 and is at the frontlines responding to the immediate needs of the marginalized and vulnerable members of our community. We assist everyone from newborn to senior, regardless of race, creed or religion.

The Salvation Army is proud to be a transformational influence providing hope, belief and possibility. It operates two emergency shelters, a family services department, soup kitchen and services within group homes or home and community settings for adults with developmental disabilities known as START. It is also a partner in the Housing First initiative.

If you removed The Salvation Army from Fort McMurray, it would cost $15.6 million to replace its services, programs and staff (Halo Canada Project 2017)

The Salvation Army of Fort McMurray operates mostly on donations plus some provincial and municipal funding as well as funding from The United Way of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo.

The Salvation Army is Canada’s largest non-governmental provider of social services and the Christmas Kettle Campaign is a critical fund-raiser for our Community and Family Services department. All donations gathered during the campaign stay in Fort McMurray and help fund this department all year, not just at Christmas.

Community and Family Services is a frontline service that assists vulnerable families and individuals. Department staff offer practical assistance such as providing clothing for the family through our Thrift Store. That assistance can also help keep the lights and heat on, and a roof over their heads. It can provide emergency food supplies, help pay for medical prescriptions and provide the work boots needed for that new job.

Sometimes, it’s staff just offering a caring ear to those who come into their offices; letting them know that there is someone who cares.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, staff can also help bring the joy of Christmas to families and individuals with food hampers and toys for children.

From Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, this year, our Community and Family Services department had already assisted 3,350 adults and 959 children.

In 2018, the department was able to support 5,205 adults and 1,074 children. That help translated into helping pay over $168,500 in rent arrears and $12,930 for arrears in utilities. Over $7,400 was spent on children’s needs such as diapers, baby wipes and formula. More than $8,990 was spent on food with another $5,778 on food vouchers. Another example is over $6,100 in helping people, including seniors, fill their prescriptions.

This is what funds raised during the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign help our Community and Family Services department accomplish.