By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Christmas is just about here, and the Salvation Army in St. Joseph is asking the community for a little extra help this holiday season.
Donations to The Salvation Army’s 2020 Red Kettle Campaign in St. Joseph are falling short. The Salvation Army so far has reached about 50% of their goal to raise $300,000 this year. Major Ronald Key attributes this shortfall to a number of factors.
"A lot of it has to do with there being less foot traffic," Key said. "A lot of people are buying online. We're also having less volunteers that have rung bells. So with all of that combined, that's where the lag is."
The Salvation Army has Red Kettles at HyVee, Wal-Mart, Price Chopper, Hobby Lobby and Sam's Club in St. Joseph.
The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign ends Thursday, but they'll accept donations through January 1, 2021. To make a credit card donation, you can call 816-232-5824. Checks can be mailed to The Salvation Army in St. Joseph, or donations can be made on the St. Joseph Salvation Army website.
Key estimates the Red Kettle Campaign will be about $15,000 shy of the $300,000 goal, but he's hopeful that extra donations will help close that gap.
"I'd just like to thank those who have helped us so far this year and have contributed," Key said. "Everything we raise here in St. Joe stays in St. Joe to help those who are in need here."
The money collected during the campaign supports Salvation Army programs in St. Joseph for the entire year, including emergency assistance, disaster services, Christmas assistance and youth and senior programs.
The Salvation Army raised $292,000 in last year's campaign.
