The Salvation Army officially launched its annual Red Shield fund raising campaign yesterday with a flag raising ceremony on the steps of City Hall in Hamilton.

Community Relations and Development Director Major Wilson Noble welcomed and thanked Bermudians for their continued support and charitable donations to the Army.

Deputy Mayor of Hamilton Lawson Mapp then welcomed the Salvation Army and encouraged community members to support their efforts in raising funds for the charitable work that they do.

Deputy Governor Tim Gurney recalled his experiences with the Salvation Army, including refereeing some of their soccer matches.

He also recounted going to an Indian restaurant for curry and seeing members of the Salvation Army there buying dinner for two Indian survivors from a ship that sunk off Bermuda recently.

Major Woody Hale noted the challenges and opportunities raised by the Red Shield campaign and pointed out that although the Salvation Army was a worldwide organisation, all of the charitable funds raised in Bermuda stayed on Island.

He pointed out that the Army ran the only residential facility for substance addicts on the Island and thanked members of the public for partnering with them in response to the needs of the community.

The flag was then raised and will stay at City Hall for several days to help kick off the Red Shield Campaign.

The Salvation Army, which has been in operation on the Island for 105 years, was successful in reaching its 1999 objective of $375,000 and this year has set a target of $400,000.

The Salvation Army has sixty two clients in its drug rehabilitation programme and last year served more than 31,000 meals to the homeless, distributed more than 500 Christmas food hampers and gave disadvantaged children some 2,000 toys.