Caring Causes - Salvation Army Year-End Goal

 The Twin Cities Salvation Army reported today that their Christmas campaign is needing an additional $250,000 to meet its year-end fundraising goal, encouraging supporters to consider making a year-end gift. The organization said that this crucial holiday campaign historically brings in 70% of its total annual donations, which are needed to fund programs all year long.

 

Additionally, all gifts made by December 31 will be matched up to $500,000, thanks to a grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and other generous donors. As a result, all donations will have twice the impact and help twice as many people.

 

“The last week of December is by far the most active fundraising time of year for us, and we are grateful for the support that our generous Minnesota neighbors have shown us,” said Lt. Colonel Randall Polsley, Salvation Army Northern Division commander. “The good news is that we’re on a comparable pace with last year’s giving, but we’re still in need of an additional $250,000 in order to reach our Christmas campaign goal by year’s end.”

 

Last year, donations helped The Salvation Army Northern Division assist 369,000 people through its network of food shelves, emergency shelters, transitional housing, rehabilitation services, and disaster relief, providing 8,100 meals a day and housing more than 900 people each night. This represents nearly a 25% increase in demand for services from the previous year.

 

More than a third of Minnesota households are below the ALICE threshold (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)¹—defined as earning enough to be above the poverty line but not enough to afford basic needs. That statistic, which includes those below the poverty level, translates to 834,000 households facing intense financial hardship—numbers which have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, visits to Minnesota food shelves last year were a record 9 million², a 20% increase from the previous year.

 

For those wanting to help and make a tax-deductible donation by December 31:

• Make a gift by visiting SalvationArmyNorth.org
• Call The Salvation Army at 651-746-3400 during business hours
• Drop off or mail a check postmarked by December 31 to The Salvation Army, 2445 Prior Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113

“The challenges faced by all Minnesotans are real,” Polsley said. “We’re thankful for the support of all our donors and volunteers, and we’re hopeful that they’ll be able to help us to reach the finish line by next week. We want to be able to meet the needs of everyone who comes through our doors.”