Kettle campaign volunteers: 'The army behind the Army'

For the last 35 years, Marion and Ray Reid have volunteeredfor the Fort McMurray Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle Campaign,some weeks puttingin so many hours ringing bells, it wasessentially a full-time job.

The couple, married for 59 years, moved to Fort McMurray in 1981and Ray remembers theirfirst shift that year.

"We were standing downtown at the liquor store outside and it's 40 below," the 82-year-old retiree said. "That was a really cold night."

Some years the couple wouldvolunteer between 30 and 40 hours a week, butthese days health issues keep Ray totwo or three hours and prevent Marion, 78, from bell-ringing altogether.

"I miss it," Marion said. "It's helping people that are less fortunate than we are, people, especially children, that can't have what our children or grandchildren have."

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"I think it's important," Ray said. "We help a lot of people in the community."

Marion recallssome of her favourite moments fromover the years.

One year, a man came into the mall looking for a gift for his wife, but he couldn't find anything.

"[He] decided to put the money in the kettles to help somebody else," said Marion. "He put in $200 in $20 bills."

Later the man's wife cameto do the same thing, she said.

She also recallsa six-year-old girl taking$20 from her own pocket and putting it inthe kettle.

"She was very happy about it, and I gave her a candy cane," Marion said,adding the momentstuck with her because it was thechild who made the choice.

The Reids are among about 15people who have been volunteering for the Fort McMurray branch for more than 20 years, said the Salvation Army's Stephen Hibbs.

Herefers to the volunteers as the "army behind the Army."

"We wouldn't be able to do this without the volunteers," Hibbs said.

The campaign's goal thisyearis$200,000and three weeks in they're halfway there.

The money is used for family services, food vouchers and helping people facing financial difficulties, he said.

"Most of the money that comes in goes directly back into our community."

For the last 20 years, anyone walking through the doors at Fort McMurray's Walmart at Christmas has likely run into bell-ringer Neil Cooper.

The 84-year-oldhas been volunteering with the Salvation Army for 27 years and the Walmart is his favourite posting.

"I've been with the Salvation Army all my life,"Cooper said.

He volunteers for about six hours a day, packinghimself a sandwich andtea for the shift.

"He's got that smile that seems to be stuck on his face all the time," Hibbs said.

"It makes me extremely proud," said his daughter Tina Hawkins. "He's well known for being on the kettle here every year."