Salvation Army kettles raise $55,849 as food bank use climbs 40 per cent

The Salvation Army in Fort Erie raised $55,849.53 during its 2025 Christmas kettle campaign, falling short of its $65,000 goal but surpassing 2024’s total, as demand for food bank services continues to rise in the community.

The campaign results come as the local food bank now assists up to 325 households each month, following a 40 per cent increase in usage over the past two years.

Major Nancy Braye of the Fort Erie Salvation Army told Fort Erie Radio the campaign total exceeded the approximately $54,000 raised locally in 2024, despite not meeting the $65,000 target set for 2025. She said donation and partnerships have never been more important in the community given the increase in food back use and other Salvation Army programs.

“Many of the people who used to donate to our food bank are now coming to make an appointment to use it. That is a sad reality for many people in our community,” said Braye.

The kettle campaign remains the Salvation Army’s largest annual fundraiser and provides funding for programs that operate throughout the year including food assistance, emergency support and community services relied on by residents across Greater Fort Erie.

The food bank is an accredited member of Feed Ontario, Food Banks Canada and Feed Niagara, which allows access to food resources across the region, according to Braye.

She said those partnerships help maintain supply as local demand grows.

Braye credited this year’s kettle coordinator, Deb Warkentin, with strengthening volunteer participation during the campaign.

“It is a struggle every year to find volunteers who are committed to giving their time, but our kettle coordinator worked extremely hard at recruiting volunteers, and that made a real difference,” said Braye.

The Salvation Army has operated in Fort Erie for more than 100 years and continues to deliver services through local partnerships including with Fort Erie’s five Kin Canada organizations.

The organization’s next major local initiative is its free income tax program for low-income residents, scheduled to begin in the first week of March.

The program is coordinated by community program coordinator Natalie Beres and processed more than 200 tax returns in Fort Erie last year, according to Braye.

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