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Highlands Today

Collections Not Matching National Numbers

Jasmina Meyer, Highlands Today

Assistant Store Manager Bruce Harris hangs clothing donations on the racks inside of the temporary Salvation Army Thrift Store on Friday in Sebring.

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: March 28, 2009

SEBRING - While The Salvation Army set a holiday donation record nationally, a sagging local economy accounted for a nearly 27 percent drop in red kettle collections for its Sebring unit in 2008 compared to the previous year, according to Major Mary Holmes.

Add to that, it lost another $4,000 in mail-in donations, she said Thursday.

"Overall with our cash donations we were down $12,000 over the previous year," Holmes said. "We kind of expected to be down with the times - the economy and such."

It's also experienced a drop in volume at its thrift store across from Firemen's Field due to remodeling inside and construction outside at 3135 Kenilworth Blvd., in Sebring.

Sales and donations should pick up once the remodeling is done, she said.

"Right now we're not open every day because we're remodeling," she said. "Hopefully by doing this it will increase the sales in our thrift store so we can help people with rents, utilities, groceries and prescriptions."

A lack of bell-ringer volunteers was also a factor at Christmas, she said.

"We had kettles ready to go out if we had volunteers to take them out," said Holmes.

However, nationwide The Salvation Army had good news; a banner year which, according to an Associated Press story, posted a record $130 million in donations last year despite the recession.

That's about a 10 percent increase over 2007's holiday totals of approximately $118 million.

This was its largest one-year jump since 1997, according to the AP story, during a holiday season when numerous retailers suffered financially.

The Salvation Army attributed its increase to partnerships it has formed with large corporations like Wal-Mart and the National Hockey League.

"For people who are online all the time, large corporations can place a red kettle logo on their Web page, and people can donate that way," she said.

To help spur donations in 2008, The Salvation Army offered new tech-savvy ways to give, according to The Salvation Army's Web site.

Patting the pockets on the run and saying, "Sorry, no change," to the bell ringers may become a tougher excuse to live with.

"For donors who don't regularly carry money, the Army tested cashless red kettles in Denver, Colo., and Dallas, Texas, that made it possible to donate via credit or debit card.

Also, several locations piloted a text messaging service that allowed cell phone users to contribute via their phone bills. Internet giving, meanwhile, rose an impressive 28 percent this year for a total of $10 million during Christmas."

Wal-Mart and Sam's Club red kettles accounted for about $34 million nationally. The Wal-Mart Foundation donated $1.25 million.

The Salvation Army reported it helped nearly 29 million Americans last year through donations, including about 5 million who received holiday assistance with rent, clothing and toys.

The Salvation Army Corps' Community Center on North Ridgewood Drive, in Sebring, was built in 1929 and has been operating since.

Anyone wishing to donate clothing, furniture and household items, which benefit The Salvation Army's adult rehabilitation program, call 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825) to discuss a pick up of your items or to find out the nearest drop-off location.

But as the sign next to the Red Kettle states, "Need Knows No Season" and other organization in Highlands County, such as NU-HOPE and Habitat for Humanity help satisfy some of those needs.

Katie Richey is the manager of the NU-HOPE thrift store, located at 5153 U.S. 27 S., in Sebring.

"We're getting a lot of donations," she said Friday. "We're here to help the elderly - 60 and older - but if somebody homeless comes in off the street, I'll give them a pair of shoes, some clean socks and an outfit, that's just how I am.

"We could use some more donations of furniture, than on clothes," she said.

What they don't need is junk. People are dropping off ripped and stained clothing and mattresses - "you wouldn't let a dog sleep on."

Those "junk items" are going out by the truckload to the county dump adding to NU-HOPE's expenses for tipping fees at the landfill.

To make a donation to NU-HOPE call 863-314-4441.

The Habitat for Humanity of Highlands County's Habitat Home Supply store, located at 137 S. Commerce Ave., in Sebring, is another place that residents can donate non-clothing items.

Time volunteered in the form of "sweat equity" and money collected from the sale of these donated items goes to help a Habitat family move from substandard housing and into a new Habitat home.

For making a donation to Habitat's Home Supply store call (863) 385-7111.

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at 863-386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com

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