The Salvation Army Bradford Corps is in need of a Christmas miracle.
With the local organization having raised less than 30 percent of its fundraising goal for its annual Red Kettle Christmas campaign, local officials are looking for more volunteers and more donations.
“The busy time is now. The kettles will have more money in them every day until Christmas Eve,” Salvation Army Bradford Corps Envoy John Barnett told The Era on Wednesday afternoon.
As of Wednesday, the bell ringers who man the kettles around the Bradford area have collected $14,620.The fundraising goal is $48,000, and collections are taken until Christmas Eve, he said.
Recent history has shown that about 50 to 55 percent of the total amount of money raised during the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Christmas campaign is collected during the two weeks just preceding Christmas, according to officials from The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division.
“With being so far (more than $300,000 for the Western Pennsylvania Division) behind as compared to the same time period last year, reaching our goal this year is going to require a big outpouring of support from the community between now and Christmas,” said Major Deborah Sedlar, Western Pennsylvania divisional commander of The Salvation Army. “However, I have faith in the generosity of Western Pennsylvanians. When times are tough for their neighbors, I’ve witnessed the caring nature and sense of community demonstrated by our area’s residents in many situations in the past.”
Last year, The Salvation Army Bradford Corps received a $20,000 check, something that has not arrived this year, Barnett said. And that makes all the difference, he indicated. At this time last year, he said the local organization’s Red Kettle campaign had brought in $46,000.
“There’s a concern when you’re behind,” Barnett said.
But in this challenging time, the bell ringers are still working the kettles. Those individuals are set up at both doors at Walmart, Big Lots, Tops Friendly Markets and Save-A-Lot. But the Salvation Army is in need of more coverage at those stores with more volunteers, he said.
In 2015, 15 volunteers turned out to ring the bells, Barnett said. This year, that number is between four and five, he said.
The money brought from the campaign serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. On the local level, the organization assists the community with paying utility bills, providing food, hosting programs from the youth and more.
The hope is to expand programming for children, such as a supper club after school or during the week for children, Barnett said. Currently, the Salvation Army has Sunday school and Vacation Bible school, and a Scouting program is hosted at the building on Jackson Avenue.
“We just want to impact the community and help the community, so we need their help,” Barnett said.
Red Kettle donations can also be given at http://igfn.us/vf/GIVEWPA or by texting GIVEWPA to 71777. For information on setting up an online kettle, contact Divisional Director of Fundraising Lauren Brant at 412-446-1644 or lauren.brant@use.salvationarmy.org.
The Salvation Army dates back to 1865 in London. Nowadays, the organization provides vital services in 127 countries across the world, including the 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division where Bradford is located.
