Small county proves big on generosity
Kittson County is located in the most northwest corner of Minnesota. The city of Hallock is the county seat. Just over 4,500 people live in the county, but what it lacks in population, it certainly makes up for in generosity.
“This was the most money we’ve ever collected at Christmas,” said Cody Kill, Salvation Army Service Extension program administrator. “We typically see about $18,000-$19,000 in donations during our Christmas Campaign, but this year people donated over $33,000, which is a big deal.”
Even more impressive, an anonymous donor gave $17,000 of that, which is provided a big boost to help the community.
And they need it, with roughly 10 percent of people in Kittson County living below the poverty line. Kill said the number one request at The Salvation Army is for help with paying utility bills.
“It’s usually not just a few hundred dollars,” explained Kill. “It can be much more than that.”
Most people who ask for help have simply gotten behind as their heating bills balloon to hundreds of dollars during extreme cold snaps. The Salvation Army may not be able to cover the entire bill, but the successful Christmas Campaign means there will be more money to help.
The Salvation Army in Kittson County also helps to pay for medical care and prescription drugs. Those expenses add up quickly, particularly in areas where a trip to the doctor can mean driving an hour or more.
Other rural areas of Minnesota and North Dakota receive help too through the Service Extension program that extends Salvation Army assistance to every county in the two states.
Please join The Salvation Army by volunteering or making a donation to support your local community today.