With seven days to go in its 2000 Red Kettle Campaign, it looks as if the Salvation Army won't get anywhere near its goal.

        Christy Cox, kettle coordinator for Greater Cincinnati, said volunteers have raised about $250,000 of the $600,000 goal.

        “It's highly unlikely we will get anywhere near that,” she said.

Joann Sedgwick of Bridgetown drops a donation into a Salvation Army kettle at Fifth and Vine streets Friday. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        The Salvation Army is $20,000 behind the mark it reached at this time last year. An influx of volunteers helped then, and organizers say that's what they need now.

        “We will be lucky, very lucky to reach what we did last year, which was $408,000,” Ms. Cox said.

        The drop in donations could cause a reduction in services the Salvation Army provides in the Greater Cincinnati area.

        “If the money's not there, then obviously those services that are offered year after year could be affected,” Ms. Cox said. “It stinks.”

        The money raised during the red kettle campaigns serves to meet the year-round operating costs of the six community centers in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky that are operated by the Salvation Army.

        These centers offer after-school programs for children, summer programs for kids, social services counseling and a variety of other programs.

        Organizers say the colder than usual weather has hurt fund-raising efforts.

        "It's been rainy and cold and sometimes downright nasty at night,” Ms. Cox said.

        Instead of heading toward the ring of the famous bells, people scurry quickly to their cars.

        While a lack of volunteers has always been a problem, more shoppers pounding their computer keyboards instead of the pavement has also hurt. There is less foot traffic at the 70-plus locations across Greater Cincinnati where the red kettles can be seen.

        Kathy Johnson, an executive secretary at Turner Construction Co., had a bell in each hand Friday afternoon as she stood for a few hours at Fifth and Vine streets downtown.

        “I think the Salvation Army is a great organization, and I know they need help,” Ms. Johnson said. “The whole message of Christmas is to give.”

        Ms. Johnson, a Groesbeck native who has been a volunteer for two years, said people have been giving generously, in dollars mostly, at her downtown spot.

        It's not too late, Ms. Cox said, to volunteer. It could mean helping Cincinnatians with services they need.

        “These last few days will make or break the campaign,” she said.
       

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