GREEN BAY (NBC26) — The Salvation Army's red kettles may have left the Green Bay community for the season, but the need certainly hasn't.
The non-profit's Red Kettle Campaign kicked off in mid-November with about half the normal amount of volunteers and less kettles throughout the community.
Nicole Hanley, marketing coordinator with the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay, said they noticed a steep decline in red kettle donations this year. At the same time, Hanley said the community need has greatly increased.
"We knew that that was going to be a challenge," Hanley said.
The Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay found other ways to raise funds through virtual events and online donations. Those efforts helped bring the organization 87 percent of the way to its campaign goal of $1,335,500.
That money funds Salvation Army programs and services, like the food pantry and hot lunch program. Hanley said both have experienced increased demand since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
“When we use to be in-person here in the building serving a sit-down lunch, we typically saw about 100 people a day," Hanley said. "During COVID, for our drive-thru lunch program, we have been serving about 250 meals a day.”
The Salvation Army also provides 100 hot meals daily for people at St. John's Homeless Shelter in Green Bay.
Food programs aren't the only ones seeing more interest this year.
Families signed up around 5,000 kids for the Salvation Army's Christmas toy distribution in December - about 20 percent more than last season.
“We believe that the increased need is due to the pandemic. We know that there are people struggling out there. Maybe they didn’t have to make the same choices in the past that they have to make right now," Hanley said. "We believe that the need is going to continue into 2021.”
To help the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay continue serving people in need and meet the increased demand, people can still donate online to the virtual red kettle through the end of December. That money will go toward the non-profit's Christmas campaign.
Hanley said the Salvation Army's pantry can always use non-perishable food donations this time of year, such as macaroni, canned tuna and soup. Hygiene and household items, like dish soap and laundry detergent, are also needed.
Physical or monetary donations can be dropped off at the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay, 626 Union Ct.
