Year-end donations needed to offset Christmas Campaign shortfall
After one of the most challenging Christmas fundraising seasons of all time, The Salvation Army Northern Division is asking our supporters to help us end the year strong. Donate now.
Year-end gifts of money, stock or IRA funds are needed to offset fundraising shortfalls felt by some of our locations in Minnesota and North Dakota. Donations to red kettles fell sharply throughout November and December due to COVID-19, with fewer red kettles, fewer volunteers, and reduced foot traffic at kettle locations. In the Twin Cities alone, overall donations are down $700,000 compared to last year’s Christmas fundraising campaign.
These shortfalls come at a time when demand for our services has skyrocketed. Because of the pandemic, requests for Salvation Army services have increased 155 percent nationwide. The biggest need is food, with some local Salvation Army service centers distributing 800 percent more food than usual. About 40 percent of the families coming to us for food shelf assistance have never needed The Salvation Army’s help before.
“This year has challenged us in ways we’ve not seen in our lifetime,” said Lt. Col. Dan Jennings, commander of The Salvation Army’s Northern Division. “We’re incredibly grateful this year for the enormous help we’ve received from our donors and volunteers, and with the community’s support, we’re hopeful that by midnight on Thursday we’ll have erased the shortfall we’re facing.”
Donations made in the Twin Cities now through Dec. 31 will have their impact doubled thanks to a $1 Million Challenge Match offered by several anonymous donors.
To make a donation:
- Give online.
- Text RESCUE to 24365 and follow the prompts.
- Mail a check, postmarked by Dec. 31, to The Salvation Army, 2445 Prior Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113.
- Donate stock, mutual funds, or IRA funds. Giving securities or IRA funds is easy to execute and can yield excellent tax benefits. To donate, please call 651-746-3504 or 800-456-4483 ext. 3504.