Anonymous donor puts $10000 check in Westmoreland County Salvation Army kettle

At grocery stores and malls across the state, you’ll find Salvation Army bell ringers.

Another bit hit that the organization is taking is the shift towards online shopping.

Tis’ the season of giving and at the Siouxland Salvation Army, helping others have a happy holiday is what it’s all about. The program has been going on since 1891. The red kettle campaign is their biggest push for donations.

It’s been a tough year for the campaign that’s not only seeing a shortage in donations, but volunteers too.

“So we need $130,000 more dollars to match that grant”, said Major Gilliam.

“Whether they celebrate Christmas or not is irrelevant”, said Nadine Oluwojure, a program co-ordinator with the Salvation Army.

Santa arrived for 79 families and at least 150 individuals on Wednesday, as The Salvation Army released its holiday packages.

They say more than 550 kids will receive more than 1,300 gifts this year through the distribution day.

The goal of this year’s Red Kettle campaign is $815,000.

The organization also collected food donations, providing turkeys and children and other staple foods to help with the Christmas dinner.

“Some of them do tear up and they’re just so thankful for the fact that a complete stranger would invest in their family for Christmas” Captain Kirk said.

Area supervisors for the charity fretted earlier this week that they may be able to help fewer families in need of food, shelter and gifts for Christmas.

Co-ordinator Mrs Heather Dicks, who has been doing the collection for 14 years, said: “The wonderful people of Newark are so generous because they bring toys for us and they bring donations”.