SALVATION ARMY'S TREE OF LIGHTS NEARS $125,000

Capt. Elmer Trapp is confident that the Salvation Army's Tree of Lights will meet its goal of $125,000.

"We have always made our goal," said Trapp, who was taking a turn at manning the familiar Salvation Army kettles Saturday. "We had $114,000 when we checked our totals Friday."

The next check will be Tuesday when the banks open. "Hopefully, we'll be over our goal by them," said Trapp.

If not, he said, "we'll extend the campaign to the end of the year."

A few times in the past the Salvation Army has extended its Tree of Lights campaign to the end of the year to make its goal.

Funds for the Tree of Lights are raised in two ways -- by bell-ringers who collect money in the red kettles and through a direct-mail appeal.

People can still submit contributions by mailing them to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 802, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0802.

"Saturday was the last day for the kettle campaign," he said.

Surprisingly, almost half of the Tree of Lights funds will come from the kettles.

"We operate nine kettles in Cape Girardeau and Jackson," said Trapp. "These kettles will produce more than $50,000 to the campaign."

Although most kettles are operated by paid Salvation Army employees, volunteers from a number of area civic clubs and organization take turns with some weekend volunteer duty during the season.

Trapp said he usually manned a kettle five or six times during the holiday season.

Trapp's kettle, at the grocery entrance to Wal-Mart, was a busy one Saturday.

Youngsters dropped in their change -- pennies, nickels and dimes -- as they passed the kettle. Adults also dropped in coins and often folded bills to fit into the opening in the lid of the kettle.

"It's going good today," said Trapp. "It has been consistent."

Money collected during the Tree of Lights campaign is used at Christmas.

The Salvation Army will provide food, toys and clothing to more than 4,500 people during the Christmas holiday season.

"A total of 750 families picked up food and toy baskets at the headquarters building here Friday," said Trapp. "And we have visited area nursing homes, making sure every patient receives a gift."

The Tree of Lights money also makes up a third of the Salvation Army's annual budget.

The money will be used throughout 1995 for emergency assistance, food programs and social-service programs for children, adults and senior citizens. "We'll serve more than 25,000 people in 1993," said Trapp.