Salvation Army red kettle donations off this year

With Christmas only five days away, the sights and sounds of the season are definitely upon us.
That includes the bright red kettles and clanging bells of the Salvation Army.
   
The Red Kettle Campaign is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
   
This year, though, people simply aren’t giving quite as much.
   
Officials say at last count, the numbers were off by about 10.7 percent and some think the economy has a lot to do with it.
“Everybody’s got to pay their own rent.  Everybody’s got to provide for their own transportation and we just want to make sure we can do that,” said Maj. Cape Grice of the Salvation Army.

Money from the red kettles provides gifts and food for local families and children.

“Everybody giving a little bit is what makes it possible.  We get a lot more small donations than we do large ones,” said Grice.

If donations remain short, officials say families simply won’t receive as much assistance.

If you’d like to make a donation to the Salvation Army, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.