Salvation Army red kettles filling at slower pace

The local Salvation Army office is behind on its annual Tree of Lights campaign, a fact its top local official says is worrying.

Maj. Mike Mills made a call for donations in a Dec. 9 news release. Spokeswoman Mandy Long said this morning the campaign running Nov. 1-Dec. 31 has raised 34 percent, or $272,000, of its $800,000 goal. That’s down 6 percent compared with the same time last year. 

“At this point in the campaign, it is concerning,” Mills said in the release. “The funds from this campaign are how we operate our programs year-round.” 

Long said 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.

“All of the money we raise stays local,” she added. 

For the decrease in donations to Salvation Army’s kettles outside area storefronts, Mills cited less people visiting brick-and-mortar stores – perhaps another sign of the growing trend in online retail purchases.