KETTLE CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF: The Salvation Army kicked off its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign locally last week when Major Norm Hamelin, left, and Parksville Mayor Marc Lefebvre made the first donations. The Salvation Army Food Bank has seen an increase in use from 423 families a month to 526 families in each of the last two months. The Salvation Army soup kitchen is serving at least 400 meals a week. Six months ago, on average 80-90 people a day ate at the soup kitchen. In the last six months, that has increased to an average of 100 people a day, with the highest number being 131 people served in one day.