Salvation Army $100K behind fundraising goal

The Salvation Army is asking Winnipeggers to donate to its kettle campaign. The charity is hoping to raise $350,000 in Winnipeg by Christmas Eve, and so far the charity says it is $100,000 short.

"Our message is simply if you're out shopping, if you're out at any of the places where you see a Salvation Army kettle, please, help us out by dropping something off in the kettle," said Salvation Army Maj. Rob Kerr.

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The Salvation Army's annual Christmas kettle campaign has collected approximately $250,000 since mid-November, said Kerr. With last-minute shoppers flooding malls around the city, he is optimistic donations to kettles will surge.

The organization uses the donations to pay for Christmas hampers as well as activities for children and youth, food banks, summer camps and emergency assistance programs throughout the year, said Kerr.

"All the money dropped in the kettle stays right here in Winnipeg," said Kerr,

"It goes directly to those people in our community who are in need, some of the less fortunate, and it helps in a lot of different ways not just at Christmas."

The Salvation Army has been working in Winnipeg for 129 years.