The 2024 Red Kettle campaign was a disappointment for Fox Valley chapters of the Salvation Army, with the Aurora-based unit raising less than half the money it was aiming for during the holiday season.
The annual drive began in early November and ended on Dec. 24.
Officials at the Salvation Army Aurora Corps Community Center at 550 Redwood Drive in Aurora said the recent drive netted only $85,751 for the Aurora unit, less than half of the goal of $188,000.
Salvation Army Major Corps Officer Joaquin Rangel of the Aurora office said it was a difficult year for the fundraising drive.
“This is probably the worst year … and there have been challenges here but this was the worst,” Rangel said. “We struggled with workers – committed workers – and it was difficult this year, even more difficult than last year. Last year, we started with maybe 20 or more workers and little by little, some quit along the way. But this year, we started with 12 to 15 at the most and ended up with four or five. I know it’s a seasonal job. We struggle every year but this year was a hard one.
“That low of a number really puts a strain on things, and our shortfall is going to affect how much financial assistance we can give people to help them pay their rent and so forth,” he said. “It really affects that financial help, and the amounts will be decreased.”
Meanwhile, the Red Kettle drive for the Tri-City Salvation Army Corps, which includes the St. Charles, Batavia and Geneva area, ended better than in Aurora but still missed its $185,000 goal.
“We didn’t get a final number as my officers went on vacation after Christmas, but our total was about the same as last year, right around $150,000,” said Steve Hawkins, who serves as the resource development director for the Tri-City Salvation Army Corps. “It was really slow, but it picked up the last week like it always does.”
Hawkins also mentioned issues with having enough workers as well as “having a later Thanksgiving this year,” with the holiday being on Nov. 28, the latest date it can be celebrated.
“A lot of people don’t even think of giving before Thanksgiving, and if you have four weeks to go before Christmas versus just three weeks, it makes a difference,” he said. “People started giving late, rather than the full season.”
Hawkins said the shortfall in donations will affect financial assistance the unit can offer as well as put a strain on other missions.
“Even though people donate to our food pantry, we still run out of certain items and when we do we have to go buy them, and that means less money for rental assistance,” he said.
Rangel said there might changes coming next year in the Red Kettle campaign to offer more donation options since fewer people carry cash as compared to years ago. This year, the Salvation Army encouraged people to use the QR code at the kettle sites to donate if they didn’t have cash to give.
Hawkins, who is retiring in March, said the issue involves what people are comfortable using to donate to the drive.
“Right now, the majority of people who give are usually older,” he said. “Our typical donors normally are in their 70s and they’re not used to QR codes and digital things using their phones to give. Young people, who are used to it, don’t give as much yet. That starts when we get older and more settled.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
