The Rotary Club of Brighton is doing its part in the community to make the Christmas season brighter for those in need.
The local service club is spearheading the annual Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign in Brighton on behalf of the Salvation Army of Cobourg/Port Hope. All the funds, however, that are raised in Brighton will stay in the Brighton community to aid those less fortunate at Christmas time.
Joyce Cassin, president of the Rotary Club of Brighton, said she became involved in coordinating the annual fundraising drive after being asked by her neighbour and friend to take the lead on the initiative.
“I said yes, so here we are,” said Cassin who was joined by volunteers Lori Van Haarlem, Mike Van Haarlen and Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander at the kettle set up at Chris & Angela’s No Frills in Brighton on Thursday, Dec. 2.
The need to help the less fortunate at Christmas is great in the Brighton area, said Cassin.
“There are so many people in need right now and the Salvation Army does an amazing job at helping,” said Cassin who added there are 20 volunteers working in shifts throughout the Brighton campaign.
With so many not carrying cash during the COVID-19 pandemic, the kettles are also equipped with the ability to take tap donations from credit or debit cards in $5, $10 or $20 denominations.
The Christmas Kettle campaign, which started on Thursday, Nov. 25, will go each Thursday and Friday and Saturday through until the last weekend before Christmas, with volunteers canvassing at the No Frills on Thursdays and Fridays and at Sobeys Brighton on Saturdays.
People in the photo are, from left, Joyce Cassin, president of the Rotary Club of Brighton; Lori Van Haarlen, volunteer from Brighton; Mike Van Haarlen, volunteer from Brighton and Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander.
