Shorter Giving Season Affecting The Salvation Army's Fundraising Efforts

USA - English

Fewer Donations to the Red Kettle Campaign Have Yearlong Impact

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Dec 18, 2013, 11:03 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bell ringers for The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign will be collecting donations for five fewer days this year due to the late Thanksgiving holiday. This timing and the icy weather conditions that struck in early December could lead to a shortfall of $20 million. With just under a week left, The Salvation Army is encouraging supporters to donate to the Red Kettles both in person and online.

"The Red Kettle Campaign is our most crucial fundraising period," said Major Ron Busroe, community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. "The shorter holiday season and unfortunate winter storms have impacted the number of donations we've received in some areas of the country. As a result, it's possible we will not meet our national fundraising goal for the Christmas season."

The Salvation Army is located in every zip code in the country and the real impact of this shortfall will hit at the local level. All donations stay within the community in which they are raised and every amount helps. Just $25 helps give a child clothing and school supplies, $50 will help feed a hungry child for a week, $75 will help keep a family warm during the winter, and $100 will provide five nights of shelter for a homeless family. To donate, Americans can:

Drop change into the Red Kettles found at storefronts and street corners nationwide
Host their own Online Red Kettle at OnlineRedKettle.org
Text the word "KETTLE" to 80888 to donate $10

Visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to learn more and find a Salvation Army near you.

Every year, The Salvation Army helps nearly 30 million people, roughly one person per second. Donations help provide over 10 million nights of shelter; roughly 58 million meals; and programming such as substance abuse recovery, after-school programs, and emergency shelter for children and families in need. During the holiday season, nearly 4.2 million people rely on The Salvation Army to provide their family with a warm meal on Christmas Day or a toy for their child. Through The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program, over 1 million children are provided with necessary items and toys.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. Eighty-two cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.

SOURCE The Salvation Army