Salvation Army hits 78% of goal as campaign nears closure

Two weeks after making a call for donations as its annual Tree of Lights campaign faltered, the local Salvation Army office has closed more of the gap toward its goal.

Spokeswoman Mandy Long said yesterday the local chapter was 78 percent, or roughly $624,000 of the way to its $800,000 goal. The campaign that started Nov. 1 ends Dec. 30.

“A gift of any size helps us reach that goal,” Maj. Mike Mills said in the news release.

Earlier this month, Mills called it “concerning” that the local Tree of Lights campaign had reached only 34 percent of its goal.

The annual campaign – largely collected by bell ringers outside grocery stores and other locations, as well as a direct-mail campaign – funds the office’s poverty programs in Greene and Christian counties. That includes two shelters, daily feeding programs, a Christmas assistance initiative and emergency social services.