Kettle campaign raises nearly $444,000

The Salvation Army’s major campaign for the year raised $443,910 – coming up short about $56,000 of their goal.
 
Lieutenant Peter Kim, Salvation Army Executive Director for the Food Bank & Soup Kitchen, says during the 5-week campaign they are able to fund a year’s worth of service.
 
“With the minimum wage increase coming up, we are a non-profit, and this is the only way to raise funds to … make sure people are fed,” he said.
 
He says their demand increased last year. in 2016, they handed out 3,111 Christmas hampers and this last Christmas they gave out over 4,000.

Kim says they had a lot of support through volunteers.

“We get over 1,200 shifts covered, and that’s a lot of volunteerism. So, we’re grateful for those who did step up, and we saw a few new faces come out,” he said.

The kettle goal was $250,000, which they surpassed, but the mailer donations fell short, raising $190,000 of their $250,000 goal.