DONATIONS STILL RUNNING BEHIND IN SALVATION ARMY'S FUND DRIVE

Saturday's donation of more than 800 cases of canned goods from VFW Post 3838 certainly helps the Salvation Army in its Christmas drive, but the agency is still running behind in its annual campaign.

"The VFW donation reduced our grocery bill by more than $3,000," said Maj. Robert Gauthier of the Salvation Army. However, kettle collections are about $6,000 less than they were this time last year, he said.

Gauthier said the Salvation Army needs $10,000 to equal what was raised last year in the mail appeal and $31,000 to equal last year's white mail, unsolicited donations brought or mailed to the Salvation Army office.

Gauthier is still hopeful donations will pick up to meet the goal of $220,000, which is $20,000 more than last year.

The goal was set higher for 1999 because the Salvation Army has seen an increased need for its services. Board members also felt the booming economy would inspire more people to make donations.

Such has not been the case with the kettles, Gauthier said. On Friday, kettle donations were $668 less than the same date last year. Gauthier was concerned that donations would be down on Saturday, as well, since he said he hadn't seen as many shoppers out this year.

Kettle locations collecting the most money so far this year are at the Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau, the main entrance to West Park Mall and the Wal-Mart in Jackson.

Gauthier said the Jackson Wal-Mart collections moved from the bottom five last year to the top three this year.

Gauthier said the Salvation Army will distribute about 1,000 Christmas food baskets this year. The tab for the turkeys alone will be about $12,000. Plus the agency wants to include grocery vouchers in each basket to give some flexibility to recipients to purchase the kinds of food they need.

"A family with young children might need milk, while an elderly couple might need something else," Gauthier said.

Another donation that came to the Salvation Army this week is 6,000 sweaters and accessories from Columbia Sportswear Co., which has a plant in Chaffee.

The items are being sold at the Salvation Army Thrift Store, 610 Independence. Revenues from the thrift store are used to support the organization's social service programs.