Salvation Army may face challenge reaching holiday fundraising goal

Maj. Ben Stillwell keeps a jar of pennies on his desk, a reminder of the power of giving.

Stillwell, of the Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau, said the change is from an older man who is a regular at the charitable organization's dinner table. He does the best he can to stretch his Social Security check, but the money never goes far enough, Stillwell said. The Salvation Army helps fill the gap.

"He came in [recently] and gave me the pennies he had been saving," Stillwell said. "He said, 'I think you guys are going to have a rough year.'"

With more people out of work or earning less, every penny could count this holiday season, Stillwell and other Salvation Army officials say.

"The demand for our services has obviously increased with our difficult economy, which means we are really challenged to raise sufficient funds," said Chris Priest, spokesman for the Salvation Army's southern region.

The 140-year-old Christian charity's annual kettle campaign kicked off in earnest on Thanksgiving. The national goal is to top last year's record $139 million, with the help of some 20,000 red kettles and an army of volunteer bell ringers deployed outside stores nationwide. But just days into the campaign, donations are down in some areas and just holding steady in stressed economic times may seem like a gain, Stillwell said.

The Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau kicked off its kettle campaign the weekend before Thanksgiving, with a fundraising goal of $320,000, an $8,000 increase from last year. The holiday campaign makes up more than a third of the charity's projected annual operating budget. Volunteers and about 30 paid Salvation Army employees earning minimum wage are ringing bells for donations at 15 stores in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Perryville, Mo.

"There was a lot of debate with the advisory board on whether we should even attempt to increase the goal with the circumstances we are aware of," Stillwell said, "and there is a genuine desire to maintain the current level of services" despite rising costs.

There is concern that the Salvation Army may have to cut or eliminate programs and services, such as its thrift stores, and trim its payroll if donations decline, Stillwell said.

As of Saturday, the campaign had raised $76,379.52, nearly 24 percent of its fundraising goal, Stillwell said. The local charity appeared well on its way to meet the first leg of its goal, raising 25 percent of contributions by the end of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Last year, the Salvation Army chapter assisted more than 32,000 people in need in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City, eastern Bollinger County and southern Perry County. That number is expected to rise this year. The organization provides meals for the hungry, clothing and help with rent and utility bills for those in need, after-school and summer day camp programming for area children, and more than 5,600 Christmas presents for area nursing home residents, among a long list of assistance.

Stillwell said Cape Girardeau residents have proven their generosity time and time again, and he is counting on that giving spirit to help the Salvation Army hit its fundraising goal this holiday season. He said he's even more encouraged by acts of generosity from those with little to give, like the older man and his jar of pennies.

"For him to do that makes it fantastic. It makes it all worthwhile," Stillwell said.

To contribute, send checks to the Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau, P.O. Box 802, Cape Girardeau MO 63702. To volunteer, call 335-7000.

mkittle@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

701 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, MO