When giving comes full circle with The Salvation Army

Nov 24, 2025

“I remember the smile on my mother’s face. That look of contentment, knowing her children had things for Christmas. That feeling never left me.”

For Executive Director Tony Brushett, that memory is more than a moment. It is the reason he now leads the very program that once helped his own family. And he is not alone. Christmas can be a challenging time for many families across the North. Since 1981, The Salvation Army Yellowknife has supported local families through its annual food and toy hamper program. For more than forty years, the team has shown compassion and commitment to making sure no one goes without. In the past decade alone, they have collected nearly 10,000 toys for children and families, filling homes with holiday joy.

The heart behind the hampers

“I grew up in eastern Canada, in St. John’s, Newfoundland. My family of seven, we were poor, that’s the only word for it. Even though we didn’t realize it as kids, we had a mother who could stretch a dollar so far. I remember every December, a delivery coming to the house: big garbage bags and boxes of food. Mom would quickly whisk the bags away, and we’d be looking through the boxes; turkey and all the fixings, fresh fruit, eggs, milk. They were luxuries for our family back then.”

That early experience stayed with him. For years, Tony built a career in business management until, in the early 2000s, he joined The Salvation Army.

“Giving that practical help to families has always been a good feeling, it’s returning what was given to me so many years ago,” he says. “I never forget where it came from, and I think it continues to focus me on where I’m going when it comes to this kind of work.”

That motivation is what drives him. “I love Christmas for many reasons, but a big one is being able to help hundreds of families every year,” Tony says. “But that’s not just thanks to us. We get to be the ones handing out what families need, but it’s partners like Northwestel, and our incredible volunteers and donors, who make it all possible.” Tony Brushettat the 2025 Toy Drive kick off at the Yellowknife Northwestel Store

The gift that keeps on giving

The spirit of giving at The Salvation Army isn’t just driven by its leadership, it lives on in the hearts of volunteers and community members whose lives have been touched by the program itself.

Tony recalls one family who came to the Salvation Army a few years ago, a husband, wife, and their three children who had recently arrived in Yellowknife as refugees. “You could tell she wasn’t very comfortable with the process,” Tony remembers. “She didn’t understand how it worked, and it was likely overwhelming. But our team made sure she felt like family, reminding her that there’s no shame in accepting help when it’s needed.”
When the mother returned to collect her hamper and toys, she was certain there had been a mistake. “She said, ‘This must be someone else’s. It’s too much,’” Tony recalls. “I told her, ‘No, this is yours. It’s the generosity of people in Yellowknife that makes this possible.’ She cried and left, and I didn’t think much more about it at the time.”
But the following year, she was back; not to register, but to give. “She told us, ‘My husband and I both have jobs now. We want to help because you helped us.’” The couple, both trained professionals in their home country, had rebuilt their lives in the North and went on to sponsor ten families the next Christmas.

“It just made me stop and think,” Tony says. “You never know someone’s story. The truth is, most Canadians are only ever two or three paycheques away from a significant change in their life, one that could lead them toward hardship or help them toward something better. That’s why every act of giving matters, because who we help today could be the person helping the next tomorrow.”

Carrying the circle forward

Keeping this incredible momentum going, the program is preparing to support around 500 families across Yellowknife and five surrounding communities, Behchokǫ̀, Fort Providence, Łutselk’e, Fort Simpson, and Whatì, this holiday season. That means providing hampers filled with essential groceries, as well as about 1,200 toys for roughly 400 children in need.
But behind those impressive numbers is a more sobering reality. As the cost of living continues to rise, so does the need. “Our Christmas program budget has increased by almost 400% in the last decade,” Tony says. “That paints a sad picture. The number of people using our services is going up disproportionately, but we’re still determined to make sure everyone who comes to us has toys and food for the holidays.” It’s a powerful reminder that even with so much good being done, there is still more work ahead, and that is where community support makes all the difference.

Be part of the story

As Northwestel customers, there are many ways you can support The Salvation Army through our annual Toy Drive. This year’s Toy Drive runs from Nov. 14 to Dec. 10, 2025. You can drop off toys at our Yellowknife retail store before Dec. 10.
A few reminders when donating:

The age of children receiving toys is 0–12
Gifts must be new, unused, and in original packaging
Please leave gifts unwrapped
Gender-neutral gifts are always a great choice, since they can be matched with more children
Board and card games, craft kits, and Lego are always popular picks
If you’re unsure what to choose, consider supporting a local business by purchasing a gift certificate
There’s no limit to how many toys you can give

You can make a real difference by contributing gifts for kids of all ages or volunteering your time, and time is certainly appreciated. “We have roughly 500 volunteer hours to fill,” says Tony. “We typically have around 100 volunteers who make that happen. Some people might help at just one event or spend a couple of hours on a kettle shift, but every bit of time counts.” From sorting and packing hampers to collecting donations with the Christmas kettles, or helping distribute toys and food in the weeks leading up to Christmas, volunteers are an essential part of making the season brighter for families across Yellowknife and surrounding communities. Every hour makes a real difference.

If you’d like to volunteer for the Yellowknife Salvation Army, this holiday season, please visit their website or Facebook page.

Government of the Northwest Territories Premier RJ Simpson, the City of Yellowknife Mayor Ben Hendriksen and members of the Yellowknife Northwestel team donating toys.

Helping every home feel the holiday magic

The Salvation Army’s goal is simple, to make sure every family has enough. “It’s not a complicated program, but it’s one that takes a lot to make happen,” says Tony. “We pride ourselves on ensuring that everyone who comes through the door leaves with something.”

It’s thanks to the generosity of Northerners that the work of the Salvation Army in Yellowknife continues to make such a difference. Whether it’s donating a gift card or volunteering your time, every bit helps make the season brighter for families across the North. And to those already contributing to these incredible causes, thank you for showing up year after year with generosity and heart.

2025 marks a decade of partnership between Northwestel and two incredible northern organizations: the Salvation Army in Yellowknife and the Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Society in the Yukon. Together, these partnerships have helped us bring the magic of the holidays to thousands of families across the North.

Celebrating 10 sweet years with cupcakes by YK Sweets!

Northwestel’s holiday giving

Each year, Northwestel supports meaningful holiday initiatives in every territory we serve. This includes the Yellowknife Salvation Army’s Holiday Giving Program in the NWT, the Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Society in the Yukon, and the Iqaluit Rotary Club in Nunavut. As part of this commitment, we contribute $5,000 to each territory annually, alongside additional support through local toy drives and community partnerships.