Donations for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign are running a little behind last year.
Capt. Hope Burris said that bell ringers will continue accepting donations until Dec. 24 at kettle locations throughout the city, in an effort to reach the $70,000 goal set for the campaign in 2008.
Demand at the Salvation Army has run high so far during the agency’s new fiscal year, Burris said.
“We’ve already helped like 1,500 people this (fiscal) year, and our fiscal year starts in October,” she said.
A late sign-up session held Thursday for people who needed to register for meals or children’s gifts brought in another 60 applications.
“It was a madhouse here,” Burris said of the late signup day, which coincided with notifying other recipients of the times and dates they can pick up their food and merchandise.
A limit of 400 families has been set for the Salvation Army to serve this Christmas.
“We did like 380 or something like that last year,” Burris said. “I put a cap on it this year at 400 because that’s all we can handle. But we’re right at that mark now.”
She estimated that 75 to 80 percent of the families indicated they needed both food and gifts.
“We’re actually looking for companies or families to adopt some of our families,” Burris said. “They can just call here at the office and ask to adopt.”
Donors will be able to state their preferences on family size, ages and genders of children, she said. The donors will provide a food box and all of the presents for the season.
People who want to purchase gifts for one or more children may obtain names and gift wishes from Angel Trees at Walmart, 2301 Industrial Road. Unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at Walmart, or at the Salvation Army office, 327 Constitution St.
Burris said there are several reasons the agency requests that gifts not be wrapped.
“The parents kind of like to do that themselves,” she said. “It gives them some personalization.”
Staff and volunteers also need to make sure that the gifts are for the proper gender and that they are appropriate gifts for children.
“There’s always that one person out there that will try to sneak something through,” she said.