By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
With two weeks until Christmas, officials with the St. Joseph Salvation Army report donations are dragging during this years Red Kettle Drive.
Major Ron Key says it's unusual to see donations falling short this far into the drive.
"I think a lot of it's just based on the economy is not a help right now, we all would probably agree with that, so I think that's the biggest thing," Key tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And we do have some people who are regular donors that haven't given yet, and sometimes that doesn't happen until after Christmas or right at Christmas."
Key reminds potential donors that every dollar donated to the fundraising drive directly helps St. Joseph residents.
"To help people that come in our doors that need clothes, food, housing, just the basic necessities of life, so that money is not restricted let's say," Key explains. "So, the more we have the more people we can help, so it'll either be either help the same amount of people with less money, or with less money you help less people."
With two weeks until Christmas officials with the Salvation Army say they are just about halfway to their goal of raising $358,000.
Red Kettles are out at shops until Christmas Eve, but Major Ron Key says they'll take donations as long as people want to give them.
"Even if people are gone for Christmas and they forgot and they come back in January, they can donate year-round and it will still be counted for Christmas up until I think January 10th, it still counts towards our Christmas goal," Key says.