The St Cloud Salvation Army beat their Red Kettle fundraising goal for 2010, but overall donations this year are lower than in 2009.  Community Relations and Development Director Karen Frisch says the overall holiday donation total is down by over $100,000. This includes not only the red kettle bell ringing drive, but all money donations received during the holiday season.

This year, the Salvation Army received $238,000 in contributions, down from last year's total of $370,000.

The good news is, the Salvation Army Red Kettles brought in over $189,000. This surpasses the set goal of $165,000$2,300 of this was raised in a single evening during the mayors "Ring-a-thon," when local mayors took turns ringing the bell for an hour. This total was then matched by local donors.

Frisch cites a struggling economy for the decline. Still, she says she says the Salvation Army is very proud of area residents, who rose to the occasion despite tough times.

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