Suburban red kettle donations down this year

Donations in many suburban Salvation Army red kettles are down, in some places by almost 40 percent compared to this time last year.

With Saturday as the last day the bell ringers will be in front of stores taking donations, officials are asking any last-minute shoppers to drop a few coins in the buckets this weekend before starting their holiday celebrations.According to numbers from the Salvation Army, as of Dec. 17 red kettle donations in St. Charles were down 33 percent from this time last year, down 39 percent in Norridge and Oakbrook Terrace, and down 29 percent in Aurora. Other towns with smaller decreases include a 5 percent decrease in Crystal Lake, 11 percent in Dekalb, and 7 percent in Elgin.Only two suburban areas tracked by the Salvation Army have seen increases this year, with a 17 percent jump in donations in Des Plaines and a 43 percent increase in Evanston.There are several reasons donations may rise or fall from year to year, said Melanie Scofield, director of public relations for the Salvation Arm.The number of collection sites could be up or down in one area. she said. As well, people are still hit hard by the economy.The red kettles have been outside of stores since Nov. 18 and will only be out until Saturday, Scofield said.However, the Red Kettle Campaign will continue through Jan. 31 online. People can donate money through email or text message.According to the Salvation Army website, the national goal for the online Red Kettle Campaign is $3 million, but as of Friday afternoon donations were only at about $1.1 million, or 39 percent of the way to that goal.Scofield encouraged people to donate on Saturday or online through the end of January at onlineredkettle.org.