Washtenaw County Salvation Army needs upswing in donations to meet Red Kettle goal
Jeanne Brooks rings bells for the Salvation Army outside the Kmart on Maple Road in Ann Arbor.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Donations to The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County's Red Kettle campaign are "trending" about $8,000 below what they should be in order to meet the year's fund-raising goal, due to increased demand and decreased donations, said Debra Molitor, director of development for the local Salvation Army.
This year's Red Kettle goal is $300,000. So far, about $142,500 has been raised in Washtenaw County — about $53,500 of that in Ypsilanti and about $89,000 of it in Ann Arbor, Molitor said.
Based on past years, Molitor said, donations should be at about $150,000 at this point.
Molitor said she is "absolutely" expecting the campaign to meet its goal.
"Things really pick up in the last two weeks before Christmas," she said.
Donations to other assistance programs, such as Adopt-a-Family and Angel Tree Toy Drive, also are lagging this year, according to the Salvation Army.
Of the 700 families that signed up for assistance through the local Salvation Army, 99 have been adopted by area businesses, organizations and residents.
To adopt a family in need, contact Chris Cunningham, (734) 668-8353.
Shoppers can drop donations in red kettles at any of the 49 locations throughout Washtenaw County through Dec. 24, except on Sundays. Toy donations can be dropped off through Wednesday at several area retailers, including iT at Briarwood Mall, Kmart in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor and Tree Town Toys in Ann Arbor, according to the release. Donations and gifts can also be delivered directly to the Salvation Army, 100 Arbana Dr., through Dec. 17.
Molitor said gifts for "tweens" ages 11 to 14 and older teens, such as games, books, MP3 player, and DVDs, are especially needed.
Volunteer bell-ringers are also needed to staff red kettles. Molitor said 27 of Washtenaw County's 49 red kettle locations were staffed Monday.
The ratio of paid to volunteer bell-ringers in Washtenaw County this year is three to one, she said.
"It would just be wonderful to have the last two and a half weeks (of the campaign) staffed by volunteers," she said.
Mark Szabo, who is on the board of a youth group at First Romanian Pentecostal Church in Romulus, volunteered as a bell-ringer with the group in November. He said about 25 volunteers staffed two red buckets at Briarwood Mall and entertained shoppers with a brass band, bongo drums and by singing carols.
He said they enjoyed volunteering so much they will be doing it again Dec. 21.
"It was a great experience from the beginning," said Szabo, of Lincoln Park. "Not only did we do a good thing, but we helped other people do a good thing.
"If you get a few friends with you,'' he said, "you get more attention and have fun."
The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division, which services metro Detroit, is more than $5.5 million away from its $7.8 million goal, according to a news release.
Find more information on how to assist the Salvation Army here, or call, (734) 668-8353.
Heather Lockwood is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heatherlockwood@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
KarenH
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 4:43 p.m.
I also do not contribute to the Salvation Army due to their anti-equality (and thus also anti-Christian) policies. There are plenty of other charitable organizations who do not discriminate against minorities.
JR in Ypsi
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 3:12 p.m.
I never give to the red kettles because I prefer not to donate to a religious organization. That doesn't mean I refuse to donate at all, but I just prefer a secular organization that isn't trying to convert people to believe in nonsense like virgin births and talking snakes. I do feel for the bell ringers standing out in the cold. They are what I call "Flanders Christians." Practicing what they preach.
Carl
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 2:52 p.m.
I stopped giving years ago because of their anti gay policies. And it's not just Ann Arbor people who care about that, just because you haven't heard about it before, doesn't mean it's just us.
tdw
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 2:30 p.m.
Is there ANYTHING that people in Ann Arbor don't complain about?
Top Cat
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 12:40 p.m.
I think most of the people posting comments here should expect a visit from three spirits some evening.
Linda Diane Feldt
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
I also prefer to give money to charities that are not actively promoting celibacy as the answer to the "sin" of homosexuality. The Salvation Army has done good work, but at the core it is a discriminatory organization with a disturbing message. I've personally heard from dozens of people who are newly aware of the core beliefs of this organization, and who are sending their money elsewhere. The Salvation Army is welcome to their Evangelical Christian beliefs, but expecting broad and unquestioning support in Ann Arbor may be an unrealistic goal. Their web site http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/B6F3F4DF3150F5B585257434004C177D?openDocument&charset=utf-8 outlines their agenda. Read it before you give.
jns131
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 9:40 a.m.
What is really a concern is these red kettles are easily stolen as well. Channel 4 news a few weeks back said that quite a number where stolen from different stores unattended but chained and locked up. This is a great cause but due to the economy? Who has the money to give? O thats right the rich with their big tax breaks. What a tough thing to do in this weather.
local
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 8:57 a.m.
@chase, not advocating not to give and help out those who need it. Yes, I pass by the guy in the wheelchair every morning while going to work. I am just saying that if people don't have the extra money to give, they can't give. You are correct, why hasn't anyone from one of our local volunteer organizations checked on this man? Instead of an article about not meeting the monetary goal, why aren't we writing about how to help these folks using the resources that we have in Washtenaw county.
Chase Ingersoll
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 8:34 a.m.
fjord & local: There is a double amputee that has been sitting in a wheelchair on the Washtenaw sidewalk near the Golfside intersection (KMART in Ypsilanti), for the last year with a sign expressing his plight. I stopped one day with my seven year old to find out more information about his situation. The amputations were as a result of diabetes. The man expressed that he preferred being out-doors asking for money rather than sitting in his apartment with nothing to do. He did not have the appearance of an alcoholic, addict or someone with a mental disorder and appeared to be functionally literate. The whole thing does not add up in the sense that this community (Washtenaw County) is loaded with social services and volunteer organization that could enable this person (who is not homeless but is living like he were 12 hours a day) to get plugged into something other than confusion and heartache for any decent person that notices him. As for the bell ringing - it is just a marketing plan that has passed its prime and laziness on the part of people in the Salvation Army to not use a bit of effort and creativity to come up with a better expression of their relevance and find a 21st century way to attract donors rather than putting poor people out in the cold weather to ring a bell. I feel sorry for the people doing bell ringing to the point of not giving so that I don't encourage the continuing of such miserable workplace conditions. I'm not a total outsider to the Salvation Army. I was a homeless shelter staff/volunteer for 2 years in another state, and I have seen Sweet Charity.
local
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 8:08 a.m.
Or could it be that people just don't have the extra money to donate this year. Our family has donated much less this year because we just don't have the extra money to give. The bells can be annoying as well.