Salvation Army raises goals for Red Kettle campaigns in Westmoreland
After exceeding its goal last year, The Salvation Army of Greensburg this year raised its Red Kettle Campaign goal by $2,000.
Capt. David Rhodes, who heads The Greensburg Salvation Army Worship and Service Center, said the agency surpassed its $80,000 goal for 2014, raising about $81,000.
“So we bumped it up to $82,000,” he said on Monday.
The campaign kicked off on Nov. 9, Rhodes said, with 15 kettles placed at eight locations:
• JCPenney and Macy's at Westmoreland Mall
• Giant Eagle in Eastgate Plaza
• Greensburg Post Office
• Big Lots and Wal-Mart stores at Greengate Centre
• Youngwood Shop 'n Save and
• Carmike 15 cinema behind Westmoreland Mall on Friday and Saturday nights.
Donations will be collected through Christmas Eve day, Rhodes said.
“We are always looking for volunteers,” he said.
Donations go toward year-long funding of housing, utility and grocery needs, operation of its soup kitchen, and after school and other youth programs, Rhodes said.
Donna Fencik, spokeswoman for the Western Pennsylvania Division of The Salvation Army, said Latrobe's goal is $55,000, up from $52,000 last year; Jeannette, $68,547, up from $60,000; Monessen $55,000, up from $50,000; and New Kensington, $65,700, down from $66,000.
Centers typically set higher goals if they reached or exceeded their campaign goals the previous year, Fencik said.
“Our big issue is we struggle to get enough volunteers to man the kettles each year,” she said.
Another challenge is that fewer people carry cash, relying on debit and credit cards.
“We encourage people to donate online. We did have some success with that last year. We saw an increase,” she said.
Donors may designate a specific recipient by listing a site city or ZIP code on The Salvation Army's website.
Those interested in manning kettles may contact the Greensburg office at 724-834-3335, ext. 14, or the Western Pennsylvania headquarters at 412-446-1500.
Mary Pickels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com.
