Salvation Army red kettles in need of donations

DETROIT (WJBK) - They help thousands of people every year, but right now the Salvation Army could use a little help itself to make sure everyone in metro Detroit has a happy holiday.

"If you can dig in your pocket, if you can find that change under your couch please help us," said Katherine Bell, a Salvation Army bell ringer.

When you put a donation in the Salvation Army Red Kettle, it's a contribution that can have a tremendous impact on people living in Metro Detroit.

"The red kettle campaign really helps us provide many services throughout the year," said Capt. Peter Mont. "It's not just Christmas."

The Salvation Army provides after school programs housing and homeless services, disaster relief and helps feed many hungry families.

But officials say it's difficult to provide these resources when donations are down.

"We're tracking now about 10 percent down from last year," Mont said. "Which at the end of the season would be about $840,000 which is a substantial amount of money in metro Detroit."

If donations continue to lag, Salvation Army organizers say some services could suffer and that will make it difficult to provide help to those in need.

"It will make it a challenge," Mont said. "It could mean not able to do as much for folks that really need it."

There are three more weeks left for the red kettle campaign. And organizers say you don't have to leave your home to make a donation.

Go online to salmich.org and make a donation, "that way you don't have to go out into the cold," Mont quipped.

But when you are out and about, organizers hope you will stop by the red kettle and help them help others.

"People think I've only got change what difference is that going to make," Mont said. "Every quarter, dime, dollar makes a huge difference."