Salvation Army collecting donations for chance at helicopter ride

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Salvation Army is collecting donations in exchange for a chance to win a helicopter ride at the 48th annual Fort St. John Trade Show this weekend.

At the Pomeroy Sport Centre, on the main floor, the Salvation Army will be set up to connect with the community and collect donations, according to executive director Jared Braun.

As an incentive, for every five items brought in, attendees will get to enter their names into a draw for a helicopter ride for four sponsored by Delta Helicopters.

Braun says the Salvation Army is also accepting hygiene products as part of the five items, and the only donation they cannot accept is perishable foods, as they will be unable to store them at the trade show.

The draw will occur at the end of the trade show on Sunday evening, with the winner being announced Sunday night or Monday morning.

In addition to the draw, workers and volunteers will share information about the local Salvation Army, including a slideshow on an LED screen from Eagle Vision.

“[The slideshow will be] presenting a number of different aspects of our work to people to be informed and understand everything from our thrift store, to our food bank, to the Northern Centre of Hope, and with our shelter and other housing programs,” Braun said.

The Salvation Army will also bring one of their kettles that usually show up around Christmas time for guests to donate monetarily, as well as a QR code that leads to the local Salvation Army’s website to donate with a credit card.

The Fort St. John Trade Show returns for the first time in three years this weekend, running from Friday to Sunday.