Donations through the charity organization s red kettles in Pittsfield are currently down by 70 percent compared to last year and it s struggling to meet its fundraising target by about $33,000. We went into the season honestly unsure if we were even going to be able to ring the bell, Captain Justin Barter, corps officer in Pittsfield, said Tuesday. We were grateful that we could ring the bell but the numbers are still significantly down. Now in its 130th year, the kettle campaign launched two months earlier than usual because of increased needs. It raised just over $27,000 as of Monday with this year s goal being $60,000 raised by Dec. 24.
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Ryan McBride
A person drops a donation into the Salvation Army kettle at the Newburyport Market Basket Tuesday. RYAN MCBRIDE/Staff photoÂ
Ryan McBride
NEWBURYPORT â With only a few days left before Christmas, the Salvation Army s annual kettle drive has not come close to reaching its desired target, leaving the Newburyport branch s leader considering ways to make up the difference.Â
Major Todd Hughes, who oversees the Water Street location, said as of Tuesday, the kettle drive had netted just under $20,000, far short of its goal of between $40,000 and $45,000. Kettle-wise we re about half way where we are supposed to be, Hughes said.Â
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PITTSFIELD â The Salvation Armyâs signature red kettles, a mainstay of the holiday season, arenât filling up.
Amid high demand for assistance, and with Christmas days away, the Salvation Armyâs signature Red Kettle campaign is far behind in its fundraising goal, a spokesperson for the charityâs Massachusettsâ division said Monday.
The steep decline in donations, coupled with a âmassive spike in demand for servicesâ because of COVID-19, shook out to a âperfect stormâ for the Salvation Army, Heather MacFarlane, director of communications, marketing and public relations, said in a statement.
Cash donations to red kettles in Pittsfield are down 70 percent from last year, she said. Despite it launching two months early this year, the campaign is $40,000 short of its $60,000 fundraising goal.
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