KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The Kalamazoo chapter of the Salvation Army says bell-ringers have raised roughly 70 percent of the agency’s $160,000 Red Kettle Campaign goal for 2016.
That’s off the pace they were expecting.
“We would hope to have been closer to 90 percent at this point, but we understand people don’t go out and shop physically like they used to, and a lot of people don’t carry as much cash,” Tim Summers, the charity’s local development director, said on Friday.
That money stays in the community to fund local services, like emergency utility and food assistance for people in need. It also helps keep the doors open at the charity’s community Center on South Burdick Street in Kalamazoo. Not reaching the goal will have an impact on those services.
“They’ll happen, but on a much more limited basis,” Summers said.
The Red Kettle campaign ends on Christmas Even but you can continue to contribute at their web site. Summers said the charity may have to discuss extending the campaign if the goal is not met.
A list of locations to donate can be found here.
