Major Allen Satterlee (left), divisional commander for the Salvation Army in western Jamaica, accepts a $350,000 donation for the group's 2009 Christmas Kettle Appeal from Scotiabank's District Vice-President, Michael Thompson. The Christmas Kettle drive was launched in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, yesterday.
WESTERN BUREAU:
Scotiabank donated $350,000 to Western Jamaica Salvation Army's 2009 Christmas Kettle drive at its official launch in Sam Sharpe Square yesterday.
The bank has been providing sponsorship for the drive for the past six years. It was also the sponsor of last week's launch in Kingston.
"Our contribution to the Salvation Army today is part of our commitment to assist the organisation to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate," said Michael Thompson, district vice-president of Scotiabank, in his address to the audience before launching the kettle drive.
"Many of us, with the best of intentions, are not able to make a difference in the lives of the poor based on the constraints of our own daily routine," Thompson continued. "So it is important for us to acknowledge and support the initiatives of organisations which are focused on helping our poor brothers and sisters who don't have the resources to help themselves."
The Salvation Army's initial donation target for Thursday's Christmas Kettle launch was $500,000, with plans to gather a total of $2 million for Christmas.
The plans
The proceeds from the drive will be used to purchase food parcels, provide aid for the homeless, buy gifts for hospital patients and provide funding for a children's home in Anchovy, St James.
There were also donations from the St James Parish Council, service clubs and individuals.
Ewen G. Corrodus, custos rotulorum of St James and guest speaker at the launch, gave acclaim to the Salvation Army's kettle drive.
"You're doubly blessed as you participate in this activity because not only do you use the funds to do good to humanity, you are giving an opportunity to millions around the world to participate, even in a very small way, in the relief of human suffering," he said.
In his greeting to the audience, Montego Bay Mayor Charles Sinclair also lauded the Salvation Army's efforts in providing aid to Jamaica's less fortunate citizens and particularly its efforts in the parish of St James.
"The Salvation Army's focus on the needy is to be commended in light of our awareness of the challenges being faced by our nation, particularly the most vulnerable groups who are exposed to a number of difficulties. They are doing a phenomenal job."