This article ran in the Cambridge Times..( if you’re out and about today, be sure to make a donation however small) Every little bit helps. They do so much good for so many people

Greg MacDonald, Times Staff 

Cambridge Salvation Army is likely to fall short of its $100,000 goal in this year’s kettle drive.

As of last Friday, the drive was $30,000 short of its goal and staff weren’t optimistic that money would flow in before Christmas.

The amount raised so far is $12,000 behind what was collected in last year’s kettle drive.
The shortfall comes a time when the number clients at the organization is going up, meaning it could be a tough 2011 for the Salvation Army.

“It means we’re going to have to bite the bullet and stretch every dollar a bit more,” said Major Roland Shea, executive director of the Salvation Army Community and Family Services.

Shea blames the economy for the downfall, as well as the loss of a major kettle at Sam’s Club, which closed in May.

“Cambridge has been hard-hit by layoffs,” he said. “Part of (the reason for the shortfall) is definitely the economy. But we used to have a kettle at Sam’s Club that we weren’t able to replace, only with special events and things like that, but it’s not the same as a shopping centre.”

The kettle drive wraps up today at 2 p.m., but Shea is hopeful that donations will come in after the drive.

The organization offers a number of services throughout the year, including emergency food and clothing, anger management for older children, and their Christmas charity efforts.

No matter what the eventual amount raised is, Shea said the Salvation Army will continue to help the less fortunate in the community.

“We’ll just have to help more people with fewer dollars,” he said.

Any contributions can be dropped off at the Salvation Army at 16 Shade St. or mailed to:

P.O. Box 26041 RPO Beverly St. Cambridge, Ont. N1R 8E8

Visit http://www.salvationarmy.ca.

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