The kettle campaign will be welcomed back at B.C. Liquor Stores in Kamloops this holiday season (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

KETTLE CAMPAIGN

Government reverses decision, allowing Salvation Army Kettle Campaign in front of B.C. Liquor Stores

Dec 5, 2022 | 4:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — You can once again expect the familiar ring of Christmas bells every time you visit a B.C. Liquor Store this holiday season.

The B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch has reversed course on a decision to stop the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign from setting up in front of local stores.

“Due to the potential for short-notice hardship on The Salvation Army’s holiday-timed fundraising efforts, we have decided to allow the Kettle Campaign to proceed outside B.C. Liquor stores,” an email to CFJC Today reads.

It means kettles can now be set up at the two Kamloops B.C. Liquor Store locations, which accounts for about $25,000 for The Salvation Army locally.

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When the Kamloops Salvation Army was notified last month, it was surprised. The kettle campaign has been out in front of B.C. Liquor Stores collecting donations for nearly 30 years.

The B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch explained in its initial decision that it had “two other donation campaigns underway in our stores — Food Banks BC and Share-a-Bear — and did not want to overwhelm customers. BCL is running an in-store fundraising campaign in support of Food Banks BC throughout the holiday period. One of our concerns was that the Food Bank campaign would suffer if people had already made a donation to the Kettle Campaign outside of our stores.”

The email goes on to say that about 15 per cent of Food Bank BC members are represented by The Salvation Army.

“This means that, in a number of communities, donations to Food Banks BC directly support The Salvation Army,” it says.

According to the statement, the B.C. Liquor Distribution has raised more than $2.75 million in support of food banks throughout the province since beginning its partnership with Food Banks BC in April 2020.