It was the 101st time that the Salvation Army had organized the registration which is aimed at giving poor families a Christmas parcel so that they can also have a Merry Christmas.

Guillermo Demon, public relations officer at the Salvation Army, pointed out that although the registration was scheduled to start at 7 a.m. some people already showed up around 6:30. He pointed out that this year the Salvation Army will distribute 500 parcels in Paramaribo and 400 in Nickerie. In the districts Para, Coronie, Saramacca and Commewijne the Salvation Army will give each district commissioner 50 parcels to hand out to the poor in their district. “This year we will hand out 1100 parcels to poor families.” Demon pointed out that this year’s Red Kettle campaign is not going smoothly and that the donations that have been collected so far are enough to buy 1100 parcels. He urged the business community to give a donation so that the Salvation Army could help more people with a Christmas parcel. According to Demon, several companies have already promised to give a donation but he still has not received anything from them. Demon hopes that they will keep their promise. The Salvation Army aims at reeling in SRD 1 million in donations. Donations can be put in the red kettles until December 31st. The red kettles are located at Kirpalani, Hakrinbank, De Surinaamsche Bank, Beni’s Lighting Trading, Lucky Store, Tulp, Times Mall and the Hermitage Mall. But donations can also be wired to the bank account of the Salvation Army at the DSB. The bank account number of the Salvation Army at the DSB is 1172085.