Generous weekend, $3.5 million to go by Dec. 31 in Twin Cities
Thanks to generous donations and a $1.5 million triple match, The Twin Cities Salvation Army is celebrating a successful weekend and hoping the momentum will continue through the end of the year.
So far, the Army has raised $8.1 million dollars towards its $11.6 million goal for the Christmas Campaign.
Generous kettle donations
Over the weekend, an anonymous donor dropped 10, $100 bills into three red kettles in the south metro, one at Lunds and Byerlys in Burnsville, one at the Cub Foods in Lakeville and one at Fleet Farm in Lakeville. Traditionally these $1000 donations are the work of Saint Grand. This time, however, the bundles of money came with a note signed from “Southside Santa”.
Then, in Brooklyn Park, we found 36 separate $100 bills. A kettle in Fridley was filled with 49 separate $100 bills.
“We are simply amazed and so grateful for these generous gifts,” said Major Jeff Strickler, Twin Cities commander. “The fact that people make them anonymously, and in cash, is even more incredible.”
Triple Match gifts
Donors not only dropped money into red kettles all over the metro, they made hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts online and even called in to help us reach our $1.5 million triple match on Dec. 18 and 19.
One woman called in with a $10,000 donation in memory of her mother, who passed away recently. In lieu of a traditional funeral, family and friends pooled their money to donate to The Salvation Army in her honor. They waited until the triple match, to make sure the gift had as much impact as possible.
Just days left to raise $3.5 million
Red kettles stay out through Christmas Eve, but the fundraising push continues through the end of the year. With less than two weeks remaining to raise $3.5 million, the pressure is on.
“This year we set an ambitious, but achievable, goal of raising $11.6 million in just three months. We are more than halfway there, but it is vital that we keep up the momentum,” explained Strickler. “The money we raise during the Christmas Campaign is one-third of our budget for the entire year, and it’s vital to our mission to serve in the Twin Cities.”
Please join The Salvation Army by volunteering or making a donation to support your local community. You can also donate by calling 800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769)