The Columbus office of the Salvation Army needs to raise $62,000 by Jan. 30 to reach its annual Red Kettle Campaign goal of $125,000. The kettles will be available only through Dec. 24.
Donations may be made to the office at 2525 Illinois St., given online at centralusa.salvationarmy.org/columbusin or mailed by Jan. 21 to the Salvation Army office.
Capt. Amy Tompkins confirmed that that the campaign has been slower than expected this holiday season.
The $125,000 represents the ministry and social service’s annual operating budget except for salaries for its two-person staff. Those budgeted funds cover the outreach’s Angel Tree gifts for poor families’ children and teens, food pantry, weekly meal site for the poor, some help with utilities for the struggling, summer camp for youngsters, drug rehab assistance, and much more, according to Tompkins.
The situation is especially significant since the demand for Salvation Army food pantry help has risen to a record 975 families per month, Tompkins said. And the Salvation Army has faced a severe shortage of bell ringers for several years.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
