The Salvation Army is down about $25,000 for donations this year compared to years past, according to spokeswoman Kimberly George.
The fiscal year started Oct. 1 for Salvation Army and the red kettle season began Nov. 7. George thinks the unseasonably warm weather has something to do with the lack of donations.
Last October, the Salvation Army had to open up shelters because of the cold. But this fall, temperatures have been higher, and George thinks the public consciousness about those who need help isn’t as high because of the more tolerable temperatures.
Patricia Rivers rings a bell as she collects donations at the Salvation Army kettle in front of the Food City grocery store in the St. Elmo community on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.“We’re really not getting into colder temperatures until this coming weekend,” George said. “So I don’t know if the weather has played a role in sluggish donations, I’m assuming that it has. Or people have just been busy and not thought of the need with the holidays being here.”
The red kettles run through Christmas Eve, and the monetary goal this year is $480,000. Last year, the Salvation Army had a goal of $450,000 and ended up raising $458,709. George said people also can donate on the organization’s website and donate their time to be a bell ringer at one of the various locations.
“We were more visible last year because of the cold weather shelter,” George said.
She added that, while donations have been low, Angel Trees have been busier than normal. Angel Trees are available in several local stores and have the information of one needy child or senior citizen. People can pick off the a piece of paper from the tree with that person’s information, and then the gifts are donated to them.
There are less than 1,000 needy Angel Tree people left in Chattanooga and 400 in Cleveland.
“With a total of 4,566 Angels needing to be adopted this season, this is the best position we have been in prior to Thanksgiving I have ever seen,” said Teresa Newsome, the Angel Tree coordinator.
Contact staff writer Evan Hoopfer at ehoopfer@timesfreepress.com or @EvanHoopfer on Twitter or 423-757-6731.