The local chapter of the Salvation Army received an abundance of gifts for children for the holidays but is still in dire need of financial donations. Major Eric Roberts, executive director of the local chapter, said the organization received more toy donations this year than they did last year, but they are behind in red kettle donations.
“Our donations went better this year,” Roberts said. “We got more material donations than we did financial donations and we’re almost $14,000 behind in the kettle donations than this time last year.”
The money donated through the red kettles helps fund the organization throughout the year. If the organization does not raise enough money, some of their programs might be in jeopardy.
“The money we raise now goes to help the Salvation Army throughout the year,” he said. “We need that or we might have to cut services, which we don’t want to do. We were looking at adding a new service, an after school program, but we have to get the resources in order to get that going. It’s going to take money to do that.” He added, “Every little bit does a lot.”
The red kettles will be at locations across The Golden Triangle until Tuesday. Roberts said he has faith the community will come through and God will provide.
“It’s going to be a difficult road but God is good and he always gives us everything we need,” he said.
Roberts said God met the needs of 300 area families in the Angel Tree program. Those families may not have had Christmas without the generosity of the community.
“The response was fantastic,” he said. “We got all the angels adopted. Everyone got the toys that they wanted and the clothes that they needed.”
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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