The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division’s Red Christmas Kettle Campaign is trailing last year’s numbers by more than $312,000.
Thirty-five of the Salvation Army’s 39 divisional facilities are falling short of their goals, including those in Braddock, Homewood and Pittsburgh’s Northside.
The Salvation Army has a goal of raising $687,500 this holiday season in Allegheny County and more than $2.7 million in Western Pennsylvania. But with two weeks before Christmas, that might not happen.
Major Mark Mackneer of the Salvation Army said the frigid temperatures are one reason for the funding lag.
“With the cold weather and the down times in the economy and a lot more people coming to the Salvation Army for help and service, it just brings us a little concern,” he said.
The Salvation Army said people are less likely to take off their gloves and give a donation when the temperatures are this low.
The majority of Salvation Army volunteers aren’t allowed to ring their bells until after Thanksgiving, and with the holiday on Nov. 28 this year, that leaves one less week for fundraising.
“We just knew that there would be at least four or five less kettle days for us,” Mackneer said. “So, we were concerned, but we didn’t think the impact would be this great at this point in time.”
While you might not get the satisfaction of hearing your coins clang in the kettle, the Salvation Army is accepting donations online and is allowing donors to contribute $10 by texting “GivePgh” to 80888.
