Reginans donate thousands to Salvation Army after Christmas kettle stolen
By Pamela Cowan, Leader-Post
A Salvation Army kettle containing $800 was stolen Wednesday from the Northgate Mall in Regina.
REGINA —Employees and Ajay Dilawri, president of the Dilawri Group of Companies, donated $10,000 in food gift certificates to the Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family Program.
“The community has been so generous to our company. This is our turn to give back to the people who make Regina such a wonderful place to live,” said Allen Lamoureux, director of operations. “We would like to see every family have presents under the tree and a full Christmas dinner on the table.”
He said 330 employees donated the initial $5,000, which was matched by the company president.
“I am so proud of the people who work in our organization,” Dilawri said. “They really stepped up to help families in need. I know their generosity is heartfelt and I am humbled to be able to help them help these families.”
This was the first year the business has supported the Salvation Army. Binner said the support will make a huge difference in 2012.
“We’re very excited about the potential and the possibilities that we will have with that $10,000 worth of gift cards,” he said. “It’s definitely going to go to a food or feeding program, but we want to talk a little bit more with Dilawri about how we can specifically use that in the new year ... It’s turned out to be an absolutely wonderful Christmas, but this is not about the Salvation Army. It’s about the people we are called to serve.”
Mayor Pat Fiacco didn’t get into the Christmas spirit until late Thursday night when he heard about the community’s response to the theft of the Salvation Army’s kettle.
“Not only did the citizens of Regina answer the call for the need to help out the Salvation Army, which in turn will help out hundred and hundreds of other people, but it helped put me in the Christmas spirit,” Fiacco said.
He wasn’t surprised to hear about the generous Dilawri donation.
“Not only does this speak to the generosity of our average citizens, but also to corporate Regina,” Fiacco said. “When people say, ‘Why do you love Regina?’ You don’t have to look very far.”
Date posted: December 28, 2011
