When The Salvation Army Peterborough recently opened its phone lines for its annual Christmas assistance program, workers received more than 500 voicemails from people in need.
The charity is once again seeing a record demand as its launches its annual “Hope For All Seasons” fundraising campaign. The 2025 Christmas appeal calls on the community to help ensure Peterborough residents stay fed, warm, and cared for over the holidays.
The Salvation Army Peterborough is hoping for a similar response from community members as it received last year through its holiday letter appeal and Christmas kettle campaign.
In 2024, total donations exceeded the campaign goals, allowing The Salvation Army to reach more families and individuals than ever before. However, with growing line-ups outside the charity’s food bank and breakfast programs at 219 Simcoe Street in Peterborough, the need continues to rise.
Naomi Dalley, the Salvation Army officer who oversees the services of the Peterborough community ministries department, told kawarthaNOW the organization’s goal this year is to raise $675,000 through the Hope for all Seasons and kettle fundraising campaigns.
“The underlying reason we do what we do is to help people realize that there is a hope beyond their current circumstances,” Dalley said. “Our greatest satisfaction comes when we get to see the joy of giving experienced by each donor and the impact of the gifts on families in our community.”
Dally added that people who want to help can also register as a volunteer with the Christmas kettle campaign at salvationarmy.ca/kettle-application/
The need in Peterborough has been growing steadily for several years. In 2023 alone, the Salvation Army’s food bank saw a 74 per cent increase in clients. Numbers rose again in 2024 and have continued to trend upward through 2025.
“We are so grateful for the support of the Peterborough community,” said JoAnne Leach, Christmas support worker for The Salvation Army Peterborough, in a statement. “We’re hoping to see that same community spirit continue this season. There are new faces here every day, people just looking for a bit of help to get them through the month.”
Leach said the donations received at Christmas account for the majority of The Salvation Army Peterborough’s annual budget.
While the focus of the Hope For All Seasons and Christmas kettle campaigns is on helping those in need during the holidays, donations support programs throughout the year including supplying clothing and furniture, emergency assistance, trustee services, criminal justice supports, youth camps, the food bank, and daily breakfast programs.
As well as donating money, people also donate toys, hand-knit hats, mitts and socks, non-perishable food, or their own time as volunteers.
Another opportunity to support the Salvation Army campaign is during the Peterborough Petes’ annual Teddy Bear Toss game, scheduled for Thursday, December 11 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre when the Petes face off against the Windsor Spitfires. New stuffed toys thrown on the ice during the game will be donated to the Salvation Army.
“There are so many fun ways for people to get involved,” Leach said. “Every year we see schools, churches, families, and businesses come up with creative ways to help.”
Some donors are people who once received help themselves from the Salvation Army.
“You can’t always tell who’s struggling,” Leach said. “It might even be someone living next door.”
