By Breanna Himmelright

This holiday season will see a familiar set of red buckets and red-coated volunteers returning to communities throughout B.C.

The Salvation Army鈥檚 B.C. Division kicked off its annual Red Kettle fundraiser Nov. 19 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The organization鈥檚 brass band played a selection of traditional Christmas music for onlookers, while volunteers were on site giving out free hot chocolate and helping raise funds for those in need.

Mike Leland, the divisional secretary of public relations, said that the goal for this year鈥檚 fundraiser is $5 million, as well as $1 million for the victims of the recent floods in Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

鈥淥ur role when it comes to emergency services is we feed first responders and evacuees, provide them hydration, mental health and spiritual care. We provide jackets, blankets and in some cases we provide shelter,鈥� Leland said.

鈥淲e鈥檒l be here on the ground until this thing鈥檚 over, and for months after that.鈥�

The demand for services this year has increased up to 200 per cent in some communities. That increase in demand makes the red kettles critical to the Salvation Army鈥檚 work, as Leland says 鈥渁bout 70 per cent鈥� of the money donated to the organization is raised during the holidays.

鈥淭hat money has to last 365 days a year, because that鈥檚 how many days we鈥檙e on the street helping vulnerable individuals,鈥� Leland said.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we鈥檙e at the end of the COVID tunnel yet. So we鈥檙e gonna need British Columbians鈥� support to help everybody get through this.鈥�