Roanoke Salvation Army red kettle donations are down

Registrations for food hampers and assistance are already up from 2014 and the Army expects to service 375 to 400 families who won’t have a Christmas meal or toys for their children this year without help.

The Red Kettles will be out until 4 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Paschal explained bell ringing now is his way of paying it forward.

“As of last Thursday we were about $17,000 behind last year and in some respects that is a significant number for us this year”, said Salvation Army Corps Officer Captain Bill McKinley.

One woman dropped $1,400 worth of silver dollars in a Salvation Army red kettle at a Kroger grocery store in Mansfield.

All money raised in the Red Kettles stays in the communities where it was collected.

Maj. Tim Nauta, commander of the Jamestown Salvation Army, said while the donation news is better than it was a week ago, when donations were down 30 percent as compared to past year, donations are still down this week by 22.5 percent.

The Salvation Army said it is halfway to its fundraising goal as of Tuesday, Dec. 15, and there are nine days left in the campaign.

And with that support, some spirits were lifted just in time for the holiday season.

The toys will be given to the families that signed up for the program back in October.

We strongly encourage all Americans to give at a Red Kettle, volunteer as a bell-ringer, or even volunteer at a soup kitchen or shelter in your community. The Salvation Army of Altus includes Jackson and Greer Counties. The goal is to raise $200,000 and so far, donations have been low. If only we could experientially share the stories of those who receive the help.

“Just blessed”, she says.

“It is important the community knows our programs are ongoing all year long”, said Major Ben Walters, Jr.