With just a few days left, time is running out for a local organization to reach its Christmas Campaign goal.
"We just hit the $376,000 mark yesterday (Tuesday), which is 73 per cent of our goal of $500,000," said Maria Wall with the Salvation Army in Chatham-Kent. "So compared to last year, we're about $70,000 less than where we were last year at this time."
The Salvation Army will continue to collect donations until December 31, but the Red Kettles are only out in local stores until 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 23.
Wall added that it's very important to hit the goal so the Salvation Army can help as many people as possible.
"All the funds, they get put towards our Christmas Assistance Program, as well as our programs that are run throughout the year, which are food banks, we help with various housing assistance. Basically, any emergency assistance that we can possibly think of, we try to help out with," Wall said.
Donations are extra important this year as demand was up for the Christmas Assistance program.
"We actually have packed a total of 903 toy bags for children. 1,158 households were registered, so they get, if they have children they get toy bags, and they also get a gift card to go grocery shopping," Wall said.
In 2022, 965 households and 745 children were helped by the local CK Salvation Army. They also had to purchase some toys this year because they didn't get enough donations.
Donations can be dropped off in person at the Salvation Army Church on Orangewood Boulevard in Chatham, or any of their locations in Chatham, Wallaceburg, and Ridgetown, and online at https://www.cksalvationarmy.org/.
