Army launched its annual Red Kettle campaign and reeled in about SRD 55,000 on the first day. The Kerk van Jezus Christus van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen promised to provide 100 Christmas parcels. The Red Kettle campaign was officially launched by Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo) Minister Diana Pokie. She reportedly represented Vice President Gregory Rusland who is currently abroad. Minister Pokie also handed a cheque of SRD 25,000 over to the Salvation Army. Local businesses also pitched in. Fatum Suriname donated SRD 15,000; Self Reliance Verzekeringen SRD 10,000 and NV Grassalco donated SRD 5,000. Visitors were also given the opportunity to deposit their contribution in the red kettles.

Minister Pokie emphasized that the responsibility of taking care of the vulnerable groups does not lie on the shoulders of the government but that it must be a collaboration between government, the business community, social organizations and citizens. She praised the Salvation Army for lending a helping hand to people who are finding it difficult to make ends meet and for having done this work for over a century. Minister Pokie urged the nation to pitch in. Guillermo Demon, public relations officer at the Salvation Army, announced that the organization once again aims at handing out 1,500 parcels. He explained that the campaign did not always go smoothly these last couple of years but that the organization will keep doing its best to reach as many families as possible.