Donations down for Salvation Army’s annual campaign

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Next year might not be as merry for the Salvation Army and those it helps as donations for the Christmas campaign are considerably down this holiday season.

The Salvation Army is short $56,000 of its $105,000 goal for the annual fundraising campaign, said Lt. Teresa Brecto of the Jamestown Salvation Army.

The Christmas campaign accounts for 20 percent of the annual income for the Salvation Army, Brecto said. That 20 percent helps fund programs that benefit Stutsman County and its largest city, Jamestown.

“We serve almost 5,000 people a year, that’s huge,” she said.

Programs include the food pantry, help paying bills, transportation for those stranded and those that benefit youth.

If funding doesn’t pick up the 440 people who rely on the Salvation Army for assistance each month could be out of options.

“Programs will be cut,” Brecto said. “That’s the bottom line here.”

Brecto said she wants to see some of the bigger Jamestown businesses start matching donations.

“If your company is doing well, help the community,” she said.

While it may not be a large business, Abbie Craig and her one-person company, Lake House Reflections, are donating some funds to help.

“Maybe if I got the ball rolling someone else would,” Craig said.

Her company makes and markets Buffalo City Barbecue, Brisket and Dipping Sauce which is available at local grocers. From now until Dec. 25, $1 from each bottle sold will be donated to the Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign, she said.

Craig also volunteers at the food pantry there and sees the need for donations when she helps stock food items.

“They help families year round,” she said.

Perkins is another area business that starting today will be donating to the Salvation Army.

“For every pie that is ordered or bought tomorrow (Saturday) morning from 9 (a.m.) to noon $2 will be donated to the Salvation Army,” said Mike Middaugh, assistant general manager.

Outside of today, when people order pies they can request that a donation be made to the Christmas campaign, he said.

Middaugh was in Grand Forks for the 1997 flood and saw firsthand how much the Salvation Army helps those in need.

“They’ve done so much for this community and other communities in the area,” he said.

Middaugh, like Craig, said he would like to see more companies helping out in this time of need.

“They need to look inside of themselves and realize what they did for communities,” he said.

Kettles for the Salvation Army are located outside of County Market, Wal-Mart and Kmart.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, salvation army, news