Salvation Army boosts campaign goal by 25%

Last edited 1:16 p.m., Nov. 13, 2017

The new leaders of The Salvation Army-Springfield have aspirations of an improved Tree of Lights fundraising campaign.

Majs. Butch and Lisa Frost, who took office in August, set a $1 million goal for the annual fundraiser, according to a news release. The goal is 25 percent higher than last year’s $800,000 target, which was eclipsed at $808,000, said spokeswoman Mandy Long.

“Our Tree of Lights campaign is critical in helping us serve those most in need all year long,” Maj. Butch Frost said in the release. “We know this is a large goal, but we have faith that once again the communities in Greene and Christian counties will respond as they have in the past.”

The nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser, the $1 million Tree of Lights goal represents about a third of the local chapter’s annual operating budget for next year. Donations are largely collected by bell ringers outside grocery stores and other locations, as well as through a direct-mail campaign. Donations fund the chapter’s poverty-alleviation programs in Greene and Christian counties.

With a 2017 operating budget of roughly $3 million, Salvation Army-Springfield ranked ninth on SBJ’s list this year of the area’s largest nonprofits.