Tri-City Salvation Army behind in donations
The Tri-City Corps of the Salvation Army is about $20,000 behind where it was last year at this point in its Christmastide fundraising campaign.
It hoped to make up some ground the last couple days, especially Saturday during a match day. Colonial Cafe and Ice Cream was to match donations made at kettles throughout Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles.
The offer was made after Colonial officials learned someone stole a kettle, containing up to $400, from a bell ringer earlier this month at a St. Charles Jewel-Osco store.
“We've seen a significant increase in the number of people who need assistance,” Tri-City Corps' Maj. Jon Miller said last week. Many people who were once donors are now coming in as recipients, he said.
The Christmas campaign started Nov. 25 and ends Jan. 1. The goal is $350,000, just like last year.
“Being this far behind is discouraging for us,” Miller said.
Besides the kettles, the Tri-City Corps solicits donations by mail. People can also donate online at usc.salvationarmy.org/tricity. And you can donate by cellphone, by texting the word “mistletoe” to 80888.Besides worship services and Christian education, the Tri-City Corps offers social services including help with rent, utilities and prescriptions, at its Joe K. Anderson Center, 1710 S. Seventh Ave., St. Charles. It also has a food pantry. And twice a week it has Bread Days, where it distributes bread and other items donated by local stores. Last year, 18,349 visits were logged for Bread Days alone.The Tri-City Corps serves St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva, Campton Hills and Wayne.