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Salvation Army Seeking Help To Reach Holiday Fundraising Goals

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – What is Christmas without the sound of the Salvation Army's bell ringers, urging busy shoppers to spare some change or even a few bucks for the red kettle?

"It feels good. I've always tried to give what I can," said one shopper.

But this year the Salvation Army here in Western Pennsylvania is not getting the response it needs to meet a $2.5 million goal.

"We have seven days remaining for our kettle effort, and we are presently $975,000 behind last year's goal," Major Robert Kramer told KDKA money editor Jon Delano on Wednesday. "That is a lot of money."

Allegheny County alone is behind $232,000, while Westmoreland County is short $100,000.

So why is the Salvation Army's kettle campaign off so much money?

Local representatives have a number of explanations.

Start with a shortage of bell-ringers.

"We need volunteers just to have people to man kettles to help us in that way," noted Kramer.

And then more people shop online, missing those red kettles.

"I definitely feel that that has an impact. My own family shops online," Kramer said.

Another problem -- as credit and debit cards grow, people carry less cash, which is why the Salvation Army encourages folks to go on-line and contribute to a virtual red kettle.

Major Kramer is hopeful people will respond, knowing that all money raised stays within the local community.

You can donate at any Red Kettle location in the area, or by going online here: www.onlineredkettle.org.

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