Duluth Salvation Army still in need of donations this holiday season

The Duluth Salvation Army is bracing for the financial impact with not reaching their Red Kettle goal of $250,000. They are nearly under $100,000 down from last year at this time, a goal ($225,000). The non-profit organization only met their goal last year, because of Hartel’s generous last-minute donation of $25,000.

Cyndi Lewis is the Community Engagement Director with Duluth Salvation Army. She says the Red Kettle financial goals reached over $154,000 by Thursday, but they still need more donations.

“My biggest concern, is it’s not like the need is going to decrease, because what we brought in decreased.,” Lewis said. “It’s not like all of a sudden, there’s less people that need help. That’s not how it works.”

Lewis also said on the one hand the Duluth Salvation Army does have other fundraisers throughout the year. On the other hand the monetary donations through Red Kettles support the non-profit significantly more.

“We do fundraise all year, but this is obviously our most visible time of the year. People are in the giving spirit, usually,” Lewis said. “But even though we’ve had really full days for ringers, people just aren’t giving at the kettles.”

Anthony Nordan, the Captain of the Duluth Salvation Army says the Red Kettles help fund their youth programs.

“Many people think of our food shop for a lunch program. But the Red Kettles really go to help our rookie basketball program. We don’t charge the full cost of program to participants,” Nordan said. “So when people give it the kettle, they’re helping those kids learn skills and basketball, but also teamwork and sportsmanship.”

Nordan also clarified that whenever someone donates to the Duluth Salvation Army those contributions stay within the community.

“The Duluth Salvation Army stays in the Duluth, Proctor, and Hermon Town area. It does not go to the Twin Cities. It does not go anywhere else it stays here, we do keep it local and I feel like that’s important,” Nordan said. “Anything given to the Superior Salvation Army stays in Superior, we’re in separate districts. Wherever you give something to, it will stay in that community. That is a promise the Salvation Army makes to the community and to its residents we honor that every year.”

The Duluth Salvation Army will continue their bellringing at the Red Kettles until Christmas Eve. For more information on how you can donate you can read more here.