Local Salvation Army Campaign $28K Short

Hampered by cold weather and a short holiday season, the Salvation Army of Killeen’s Red Kettle campaign has fallen $28,000 short of its $80,000 goal.Killeen director Cpt. Christopher Bryant said in an interview with the Temple Daily Telegram that the organization lost six days due to this year’s late Thanksgiving.

“The way Thanksgiving fell this year left us six days short of the number of days we had last year, and those six days last year accounted for $20,000,” he said.

Bryant also said that cold weather was a factor as well, with some days being far too cold to place any representatives at store fronts.

The Red Cross is funded completely by donations, meaning programs offered by the Killeen organization will have to be scaled back in the case of a donation shortfall. Bryant said the program likely to take the biggest hit is the group’s homeless prevention program, which offers help to families struggling to pay rent and utilities.

Despite the shortage of donations, Bryant expressed gratitude for the funds that were raised and thanked volunteers.

Donations can still be dropped off at the Salvation Army of Killeen at 1306 E. Rancier Ave. or via mail at P.O. Box 4330, Killeen, TX, 76540.