Jingling bells will once again be heard in front of liquor stores across the province, as the BC Liquor Distribution Branch has reversed an earlier decision that was blocking the Salvation Army kettle campaign from the front of their stores.

害羞草研究所淒ue to the potential for short-notice hardship on The Salvation Army害羞草研究所檚 holiday-timed fundraising efforts, we have decided to allow the kettle campaign to proceed outside BC Liquor (BCL) stores,害羞草研究所� said a press release from LDB.

害羞草研究所淲e have welcomed The Salvation Army kettle campaign outside BCL for many years.害羞草研究所�

Stuart Richardson, a retired school principal who is the Christmas kettle coordinator for Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, was one of the Salvation Army staffers who voiced their disappointment at being blocked from the stores last week.

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Monday afternoon, learning of the LDB害羞草研究所檚 change of heart was like an early Christmas present for him.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 fantastic. I think that害羞草研究所檚 really great,害羞草研究所� said Richardson. 害羞草研究所淚 really appreciate they害羞草研究所檝e changed their minds.害羞草研究所�

The LDB said its decision to limit fundraising efforts had been made because there were two other donation campaigns underway in their stores 害羞草研究所� Food Banks BC and Share-a-Bear. They did not want to overwhelm customers.

BCL is running an in-store fundraising campaign in support of Food Banks BC throughout the holiday period. A concern was the Food Bank campaign would suffer if people had already made a donation to the kettle campaign outside of stores. To date, the LDB has raised more than $2.75 million in support of food banks throughout B.C. since beginning its partnership with Food Banks BC in April 2020, said the release.

害羞草研究所淗aving said that, recognizing the short-notice, we do not want to create hardship for The Salvation Army and will welcome them outside BCL stores this holiday season,害羞草研究所� said the press release.

Richardson said he害羞草研究所檚 going to need more bellringers doing two-hour volunteer shifts. Last year, the kettle campaign in Ridge Meadows raised $138,000, and this year the goal is $200,000, due to the increased need.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l be close,害羞草研究所� said Richardson of meeting that goal.

But he will need more volunteers, and they can call him at 604-838-9813 or email RMKettles@salvationarmy.ca

The kettle campaign is synonymous with charitable giving, has been running for more than a century across North America, and were first seen in Canada in 1903, in Toronto.

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