The Salvation Army of McLean County is asking for substantially more money during this year's Red Kettle campaign.
This year's goal of $1 million is 51% more than last year's goal of $670,000, which ended up being surpassed by more than $20,000.
Salvation Army Major Dan Leisher said the organization has experienced some losses in funding while also seeing an increase in need.
“Our fiscal year just ended in September, and we were about $300,000 behind. So that's chief among what we're trying to make up,” Leisher said on WGLT's Sound Ideas.
The Salvation Army has collected some emergency funding, but not enough to offset about $700,000 in state and federal grants that have been reduced or entirely removed.
“That's a bulk of why we're asking for such a huge increase. Primarily, there's also demands in food pantry, and we're trying to figure out ways to supplement that, to make that functioning because there certainly is a need for folks who use the food pantry,” Leisher said.
The specific goal amount accounts for a specific budget shortfall, while $0.89 reflects the cost of a can of beans, he said.
The Salvation Army food pantry is a client choice pantry, which Leisher said gives a little more dignity to the situation for those who attend.
“We like to try to keep that stocked. It's been really hard. The food resources have diminished, but requests have continued to climb," he said.
Due to the federal government shutdown which ended this week, and temporary cuts to SNAP benefits, Leisher said the agency has reached all-time highs in assistance.
“We've reached the highest number of people we've served per day for a six-hour period, about 80 people has been the top and that's quite a few to consider,” said Leisher, adding the increase in people has been seen both in the food pantry and in providing meals for those who need them.
“We have volunteers who serve nearly every night of the year,” Leisher said. “People just pour out to serve folks and we're serving about 70 people for our evening meals. Our noon meals, probably about 40 or 50. And then breakfast, probably about 30 or 40.”
The additional money is needed to run the food pantry and serve hot meals, but also to provide temporary winter housing to shelter those who would otherwise be out in the cold.
“We're shooting for the moon, and if we don't get it, we'll at least be among the stars. That's what we're kind of philosophizing. I know it's a lot, and it's $300,000 more than previous, and that's a big jump. So we're optimistic that we know people will give, we've seen the evidence of that in the past, and we know people will help us,” Leisher said.
If the Salvation Army comes up short of its goal, Leisher said it would have to cut back in some areas of the organization's offerings. If that occurs, the Salvation Army board would decide what might be cut.
“There may have to be times when, perhaps during some of the day services, we would have to stop that, because there's about 40 to 50 people a day who come in to do laundry or take showers or include the meal,” Leisher said. “So those people aren't even housed there, and so having to cut back on some of those services might be necessary.”
Red kettles are set up at six locations in Bloomington-Normal, and more will open after Thanksgiving. The online and mail campaign will continue through the end of January.
Shelter capacity
The Salvation Army is hoping the addition of Home Sweet Home Ministries shelter village, The Bridge, may relieve some of the stress on housing. Even with this, the numbers do not add up to help the over 300 people seeking shelter last winter season.
"If history proves the same, we'll be at capacity most of the [winter]," Leisher said.
Recently, the City of Bloomington relaxed rules regarding expanded capacity for congregate settings, citing a housing emergency. This will now allow for 28 additional beds this winter, in addition to the 50 permanent beds at the shelter.
The additional beds are set up in the cafeteria, where Leisher said permanent fire and smoke alarms, permanent CO2 detectors and sprinklers have been added to meet city code for congregate housing.
