The Salvation Army’s goal is to raise $160,000 by Christmas Eve.
“To date, we have raised $28,053,” Capt. Tony Perez announced. “I am strongly encouraged that with the current economy, we are only behind by around $600 from last year. We expect the giving to pick up speed during the next couple of weeks.”
The Salvation Army Christmas Campaign wouldn’t be possible without the help of hundreds of volunteers. They commit anywhere from one to 40 hours of their time. They help in the Toy Shop for the Angel Tree and ring bells at the various kettle locations.
“Our fundraising efforts would be seriously diminished without them,” Perez said. “Many of them volunteer one year, find out they loved it, and do it again in the following years.”
Eric Caveness is one of those volunteers. This will be the second year that his sons, Ryan, 11, and Dylan, 9, and he will ring bells at Wal-Mart on S. Main Street.
“My sons were the ones that wanted to do it,” Caveness said. “They were so excited and got really into it. I try to instill a heart of giving in them. They might not always be able to fill the kettle with money, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stand there and inspire others to give.”
Last year while ringing, Dylan received Subway cookie coupons from the in-store sandwich shop. He gave them to all of the kids who walked into Wal-Mart that day with their parents. The hope was that the parents would be encouraged to donate on their way out of the store.
This year’s present? Candy canes.
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