Overall Salvation Army donations down

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The economic recession continues to make a dent in donations in the Salvation Army's Northern Division, covering Minnesota and North Dakota.

Spokeswoman Annette Bauer says mailed donations are still being counted, but overall the division has collected $15.5 million — $2 million short of its goal.

Bauer says for the region's smaller cities, the seasonal fund raising accounts for about 70 percent of their budgets. She says Fargo, N.D., has a goal of $890,000, but is about $100,000 short. Rochester set a $1 million goal and has raised $820,000. The Twin Cities is about $700,000 below its goal of $9.8 million.

Bauer says there are some bright spots Brainerd, Austin, Cloquet, Fairmont, Willmar and Willison, N.D., have met, or are near their goals.

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