Faith&Friends
KETTLE CARING
Creating Lasting Memories The Salvation Army’s red kettles are a symbol of hope for those in need—such as Gerry. Photos: Ray Shum
by Gavinder Randhawa
T
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is the season for iconic red Salvation Army Christmas kettles lining the streets of your community, when the public get the chance to meet Army staff and volunteers giving their time to ring some bells to help raise vital funds for our programs and services. One of the volunteers you might meet in the Ridge Meadows community in British Columbia is Gerry, a 59-year-old who knows all too well just how important these programs can be for someone in need.
Jobs Well Done Originally from Ireland, Gerry’s family moved to Vancouver when he was just four years old. His father, a loyal Manchester United soccer supporter, shared his love of the game with his son. As Gerry grew older, he ended up spending many hours on the soccer pitch, where his natural talents blossomed. However, issues with alcohol and substance abuse would sideline him from ever reaching his true potential. Growing up, Gerry struggled with memory loss. These challenges made
faithandfriends.ca I DECEMBER 2021
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