The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to fill 1,500 shifts in Edmonton after the charity made vaccines mandatory for its Christmas kettle volunteers.
The organization’s website states that “some volunteer opportunities within The Salvation Army Edmonton locations are currently suspended due to Covid-19 precautions.”
They are seeking to raise $600,000 by Christmas Eve.
“We’re quite dependent upon the support of the public during the Christmas season in this campaign to keep our homeless shelters open and running,” Salvation Army spokesman Jamie Locke told the Edmonton Journal.
“We know that’s reflective of all the challenges that we’re collectively facing in trying to get back out and being in public settings. So it’s helpful to try and get the word out there that the Salvation Army needs volunteers. Without our volunteers and supporters, there is no way the mission of the Salvation Army could be accomplished.”
As exclusively reported by True North fellow Andrew Lawton, the organization confirmed earlier this month that it would turn away unvaccinated volunteers.
“All Salvation Army staff (employees, officers, volunteers) providing on-site and in-person services are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” Salvation Army spokesperson and lieutenant-colonel John Murray told True North.
“The Salvation Army continues to follow all provincial and federal public health policies and guidelines as it relates to COVID-19 because our number one priority remains the health, safety and well-being of our clients, employees, officers, volunteers, guests, donors and communities.”
The vaccine mandate went into effect on November 15, 2021 and applies to ushers, greeters and Sunday school teachers.
As a result of the decision, Williams Lake Salvation Army in BC lost 80% of its volunteers forcing the organization to close its drop-in centre and discontinue feeding the homeless.
“I am beyond hurt that my own church is engaging in medical segregation,” Salvation Army member and 25-year volunteer Connie Fournier told True North. “That goes against everything William Booth (and Jesus, for that matter) represented. The Salvation Army was formed to minister to the most downtrodden and socially rejected members of society. Today, they themselves are doing the rejection.”
