MN, ND: Kettles short in most areas, but Christmas goal close
As the saying goes, “Missed it by that much.”
Salvation Army red kettles in Greater Minnesota and North Dakota just missed their $3.85 million goal for the 2015 Christmas Campaign. Some communities brushed past their local fundraising goals, though most fell just short. (See how your community did.)
After the last dollars and cents were counted, people dropped $3,709,718.47 into kettles across the two states (not including the Twin Cities), missing the goal by less than $150,000.
“We may not have hit our kettle goal, but fortunately, kettles were not the only option for donating during the Christmas season,” explained Colonel Robert Thomson, Salvation Army Northern Division leader. “People also donated online, sent checks in the mail, or gave in person at our worship and service centers. These Christmas donations are still coming in and being counted.”
So far, Christmas donations across the two states (not including the Twin Cities) total $7.57 million toward the overall Christmas fundraising goal of $9 million. As donations continue to trickle in, The Salvation Army is optimistic that the goal will be reached.
“We have some areas in North Dakota and Minnesota where families are hurting and struggling,” Thomson said. “The oil industry of North Dakota is not faring very well and neither is the iron ore region of northern Minnesota. Your donation will go a long way towards ensuring families have the emergency care they need during a time of crisis.”
While kettle donations were down this year, more people gave online. The Salvation Army Northern Division saw a 36 percent increase in online gifts during the Christmas Campaign, compared to last year.
Here are the donation totals as of Jan. 7:
Greater Minnesota
Albert Lea
Christmas goal $192,000
Actual: $217,717.24
Kettle goal $105,000
Actual: $92,140.38
Austin
Christmas goal $170,000
Actual: $186,497.72
Kettle goal $68,600
Actual: $81,252.51
Brainerd
Christmas goal $250,000
Actual: $248,490.09
Kettle goal $155,000
Actual: $121,550.02
Duluth
Christmas goal $620,500
Actual: $511,336.75
Kettle goal $275,000
Actual: $305,047.86
Fairmont
Christmas goal $105,000
Actual: $62,702.98
Kettle goal $37,800
Actual: $28,330.28
Fergus Falls
Christmas goal $246,500
Actual: $227,380.79
Kettle goal $105,000
Actual: $113,683.66
Hibbing
Christmas goal $142,000
Actual: $183,992.42
Kettle goal $51,500
Actual: $53,741.52
International Falls
Christmas goal $71,000
Actual: $53,620.14
Kettle goal $27,600
Actual: $22,849.06
Mankato
Christmas goal $285,000
Actual: $326,874.55
Kettle goal $190,000
Actual: $163,762.52
Rochester
Christmas goal $1,075,000
Actual: $787,842.97
Kettle goal $425,000
Actual: $389,343.72
St. Cloud
Christmas goal $492,000
Actual: $475,585.80
Kettle goal $183,000
Actual: $197,426.91
Virginia
Christmas goal $135,000
Actual: $149,371.96
Kettle goal $58,000
Actual: $60,339.03
Willmar
Christmas goal $200,000
Actual: $235,264.63
Kettle goal $150,000
Actual: $164,000
North Dakota
Bismarck
Christmas goal $360,000
Actual: $245,471.98
Kettle goal $143,500
Actual: $123,310.40
Fargo
Christmas goal $896,000
Actual: $837,880.91
Kettle goal $480,000
Actual: $502,175.31
Grand Forks
Christmas goal $420,000
Actual: $270,799.15
Kettle goal $194,000
Actual: $148,963.47
Jamestown
Christmas goal $156,000
Actual: $108,773.62
Kettle goal $72,000
Actual: $62,734.76
Minot
Christmas goal $300,000
Actual: $192,958.24
Kettle goal $127,700
Actual: $113,155.31
Williston
Christmas goal $280,000
Actual: $284.408.15
Kettle goal $74,500
Actual: $91,262.25
All Other Minn. and N.D. Counties
Service Extension
Christmas goal $2.8 million
Actual: $2,072,003.23
Kettle goal $1.2 million
Actual: $1,131,644.27