Last year the Salvation Army Red Kettle holiday fundraising campaign almost came up short of its $30,000 goal, but community members turned out in force Dec. 24, helping to push the drive $400 over, according to Capt. Steve  Griffin.
Despite the strong finish, though, the increased demand on the organization’s many services, especially a 10 percent jump in food purchases, caused Griffin to limit clothing vouchers for the Thrift Store. Instead of distributing vouchers  to a larger range of those in need, the program was reduced to just victims of fires, he said.
The Salvation Army’s other programs continued to deliver to traditional groups, including: 126 food baskets, assisting 20 families with rent, 49,000 meals, and 13 kids being sent to summer camp on Seneca Lake. As for holiday services,  a total of 457 people (including 205 children) received toys, gifts and food, and volunteers drooped off gifts to 790 senior citizens in area nursing homes.
But while Griffin feels this year’s campaign could help maintain these programs as well as potentially helping to expand the clothing vouchers again, the number of volunteers willing to ring the familiar red kettle bells is lacking.
Many businesses have already agreed to place kettles in front of stores, but “we just need to find people to fill all the hours,” Griffin said, “eight hours a day, six days a week.” But volunteers can serve as many or as few hours as  they can, he added.
Anyone interested in volunteering, call Capt. Griffin at 866-1240.
The official kick-off date is Nov. 16, running through Dec. 24, and kettles will be in front of Herb Philipson’s, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart among other locations.