Salvation Army Hopes for Strong Finish Towards Red Kettle Campaign

ST. CLOUD -- With just a few days left before Christmas the Salvation Army is hoping for a strong push as they wrap up their red kettle campaign.

Jim Muellenbach is the Community Development Director with the Salvation Army. He says they are about three-quarters of the way towards their $200,000 goal.

"Counting through Tuesday we had $143,000 which is 72 percent of our goal. Unfortunately we've used up about 89 percent of our campaigning days," says Muellenbach.

Muellenbach says they are about $27,000, or 17%, behind last year's mark. However, it's not just the St. Cloud area seeing a downward trend.

"In our division, the average is about 15% down. Minneapolis is down 25%, and Fargo is down about 30%. Everybody has a long way to go," says Muellenbach.

Mullenbach says the kettles will be gone at all locations by 2:00 p.m. Saturday, but they will continue to take donations until December 31st.

If you can't make it out to a red kettle in time you can also submit a donation online.