Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign struggling this year

Dec. 14—The Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaigns in Sunbury and Milton are only 30 percent toward their collective goals with only nine days before it ends on Christmas Eve.

The Sunbury Salvation Army has collected $15,000 toward its $55,000 goal while the Milton Salvation Army has collected $9,773 toward its $30,000 goal, according to Sunbury's Hannah Hench and Milton's Lt. Evita Leach-Colon.

"Last year at this time, we were $22,872 toward a goal of $30,000," said Leach-Colon. "We're down drastically. It's not just us that's down. It's down across the region. There aren't as many standing locations as previous years. Many people who used to be donors are now coming to us looking for help."

Hench, the daughter of Maj. Tammy Hench at the Sunbury/Shamokin Salvation Army, said they are in "a similar spot, if not a little behind" compared to last year.

"With price increases of gas, groceries, inflation of products, there's a greater need than we've seen in a while in the community," said Hench. "People who are in need, their income is going to those things instead of Christmas gifts or Christmas meals. We're serving a lot of people this year. The Red Kettle campaign directly funds those and helps them have a holiday they deserve. Beyond the holiday season, we continue to help those with food and housing insecurity, to keep them safe, warm and happy in the community."

On Saturday, both locations will match any cash donations up to $5,000.

The Red Kettle campaign launched on Black Friday and ends around 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.

"A lot of people are looking for assistance with their electric bills this Christmas," said Milton caseworker Valerie Harris.

PPL ended its grace period over winter. People are now facing termination of their electric service over winter, Harris said.

The physical locations are at Lingle's Neighborhood Market in Watsontown; Walmart in Selinsgrove, Lewisburg and Shamokin; the Susquehanna Valley Mall in Selinsgrove; Boscov's at the Susquehanna Valley Mall; Surplus Outlet in Northumberland; Joy Through the Grove at Knoebels; Boyer's Market in the Coal Region; Cole's Hardware in Milton; and Great Valu Markets in Turbotville, but only on Friday and Saturday. This does not include small donation boxes at various counters of businesses across the area.

Roy Raker Jr., of Sunbury, collects donations for the Salvation Army in front of the Selinsgrove Walmart.

He said he volunteers 48 hours a week Monday through Saturday because of the lack of volunteers.

The donors have been good, he said.

The older crowds donate more than the younger crowd, he said.