When the Need is Greater, More Funds are Needed

The Salvation Army of Marion and Polk Counties needs the community’s help. Just five dollars in the red kettle will feed a hungry person for a day.

Source: blog.mlive.com

(SALEM,. Ore.) - Christmas Eve marks the last day of The Salvation Army's 2009 Red Kettle Campaign. With one more week to go, the Salvation Army of Marion and Polk Counties is 11% short of where they were this time last year, in part due to fewer kettle locations.

Funds from this year’s Red Kettle Campaign will help sustain vital Salvation Army programs and services in the Salem area, helping those in need to get through their daily struggle for survival.

The Salvation Army's Family Services, located at 1977 Front Street, is taking toy donations through December 23rd and is expected to serve over 9,000 children by Christmas.

Salem's working poor have been hit hard this winter by the struggling economy. Marion and Polk counties are faced with a staggering 11% unemployment rate.

The Salvation Army’s urgent need for community support is due to the many families who are seeking assistance for the first time. This winter, The Salvation Army has assisted Marion and Polk county residents with their monthly bills, and provided food boxes so families can put food on their table. Our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet in this economy, and they desperately need help.

The Salvation Army of Marion and Polk Counties needs the community’s help. Just five dollars in the red kettle will feed a hungry person for a day. Donations are also accepted online at onlineredkettle.com, or can be mailed to PO Box 7047, Salem, OR 97303.

Source: The Salvation Army and the Red Kettle Campaign