The Salvation Army Less Than Halfway to Red Kettle Campaign Goal
PITTSBURGH (December 10, 2025) – Christmas Eve is only two weeks away and The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division is in urgent need of donations and volunteers to support the annual Red Kettle Campaign. The Salvation Army has reached less than half of the fundraising goal set to support neighbors in need across Western Pennsylvania. The Salvation Army still needs to raise more than $1.3 million in Western Pennsylvania. The local arm of the global nonprofit has raised $933,912 across 28 counties in Western Pennsylvania, more than 40 percent of the $2,303,000 goal. In Allegheny County, The Salvation Army has raised $213,869, almost 41 percent of the $527,000 fundraising goal.
Funds raised in these final critical days before Christmas Eve sustain essential services including feeding initiatives, rent and utility assistance, seasonal assistance, youth empowerment and spiritual programs. Locally, several Salvation Army locations are seeing a drastic decline in donations year-over-year. The Salvation Army community centers in Allegheny Valley (Brackenridge), North Boroughs (Pittsburgh), Punxsutawney and Latrobe, Pennsylvania are in urgent need of increased community support.
“The Salvation Army has become synonymous with the season of giving and we are so grateful for the generous gifts we have received,” Major Marcus Jugenheimer, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania said. “With only a couple weeks to go, more than a million dollars is still needed to ensure our programs can continue. Know that every dollar given, in person and digitally, will stay here in our community and will be used to support our most vulnerable neighbors.”
For more than 160 years, The Salvation Army has served as a critical safety net for those in need. Throughout the year, The Salvation Army provides warm meals, emergency rental and utility assistance and food. Every donation made to the Red Kettle Campaign stays local in the community where it is collected. Due to economic hardship, thousands of working families and individuals are struggling to put food on their tables and heat their homes across the region.
Donations to the Red Kettle Campaign can be made in person at locations throughout Western Pennsylvania or virtually by visiting salvationarmywpa.org. Gifts can also be given at any time by texting the word “Kettle” to 31333. Donors can then reply with their ZIP code to ensure each donation goes directly back into the community where they reside.
On Saturday, December 13, local Salvation Army locations will be participating in the National Commander’s Red Kettle Challenge, an annual day of fundraising across the country, issued by Commissioner Merle Heatwole, the organization’s national commander. The challenge calls on Salvation Army staff, volunteers and supporters nationwide to join Commissioner Heatwole in a spirited competition to raise the most donations throughout the day.
Volunteers are a critical component to the success of the annual campaign. On average, volunteer bell ringers raise $80-$100 over the course of one two-hour shift, which can provide up to 200 meals to those in need. Visit RegistertoRing.com to find a shift or contact your local Salvation Army location directly. The Salvation Army is grateful for the continued support of its Allegheny County Red Kettle Kickoff Sponsor, PNC Bank, whose partnership helps launch this essential annual campaign.
Celebrating 160 years of global service as both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 134 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, visit salvationarmywpa.org. The Salvation Army … doing the most good for the most people in the most need.