VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A local Salvation Army Chapter needs your help to reach its fundraising goal in this year’s Red Kettle campaign.

Captain Jeremy Fingar is the Corps Officer for the Vigo County Salvation Army and he said the flu recently hit their bellringers, and without those bellringers, the organization fell way behind on donations.

The organization still needs to raise over $50,000 to reach its goal. To help the organization reach the goal, some longtime supporters have announced a matching challenge.

Starting Friday through December 23, those supporters will match every donation put in a red kettle in Vigo County up to $20,000.

“The money raised in the red kettle is used all year round by the Salvation Army in Vigo County. It is our largest fundraising effort. It represents more than 80% of our annual budget and it is the money that we use to support our citizens. Without it, we would not survive and a lot of people in Vigo County would be worse off,” Fingar said.

The Vigo County Salvation Army’s goal is to raise a total of $125,000.

Other matches around the Wabash Valley

Additionally, Sullivan County’s Salvation Army has announced a similar matching program, with Hallador Power matching up to $2,000 in kettle donations made from Dec. 16 until the Dec. 22.