Salvation Army bell ringers needed for Red Kettle Campaign

Guy Watts with the Salvation Army of Odessa.

The Salvation Army is asking for your donations to help these families, as they do not require any more goods or food right now.

Local businesses and organizations are encouraged to have their own red kettle challenge. The goal for mail, online and other gifts is $260,000.

Salvation Army officials say volunteerism has been lower than most years and red kettle locations are down due to stores terminating bell ringing agreements.

A looming shortfall in donations to The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign threatens to greatly impact its delivery of services.

Red Kettle collections comprise approximately 25 percent of donations to The Salvation Army in New Mexico for the entire year.

Thammavongsa adds that this year’s goal was made with some belt-tightening built in, so if they fall short some other cutbacks may also be implemented in areas such as staffing and program reductions.

“We’re probably about $20,000 behind this year”, Kettle Bell coordinator, Barney Barnaby, said. “Our situation is pretty simple – if we can’t raise the funds necessary to do what we need to do, we have to make cuts”, said Lt. Steven Dahl. “No donation is too small, it can all make an impact”.

According to a release from the Salvation Army, the organization is down around $24,000, a drop of 22 percent when compared with previous year.

After school programs and meals for children, free doctor check-ups for people in need, helping families displaced from emergencies, like fires, and much more. Mondays and 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Mondays through Saturdays through December 23.