Reading Seeking Online Donations to Meet Fundraising Goal
READING, Pa. - It's a longtime staple of the holiday season, the iconic red kettles of The Salvation Army outside stores and on city streets, but just like with everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll.
"In the Philadelphia area, this eastern part of Pennsylvania, they are down about 45% compared to last year," said Major Darren Mudge, the Corps's commanding officer.
The Salvation Army representatives said it's the foot traffic, significantly less when many are cautioned against venturing out, so they're improvising.
"On the sign behind me, you'll see some QR codes that people can scan on their phones," Mudge said, "so we are trying to do as contactless as possible."
They're also asking for donations online. Last year, The Salvation Army raised $100,000 from kettles in the Reading area alone, but rather than lowering its goal, it's shooting for $150,000.
The money isn't just for Christmas efforts but for outreach year round, as food shortage is also still impacting many families.
"Normally, we do about 750 families," Mudge said. "This year, we are up around a thousand, just under a thousand families, so we've seen a major increase in folks coming to us with their needs."
Original Source: WFMZ