The 2021 holiday season proved to be another strong period of giving as the Twin Cities Salvation Army announced Friday it would reach the $12 million Christmas Campaign goal.
Reaching the goal comes at a critical time for the Twin Cities Salvation Army, which is part of the Salvation Army Northern Division.
"In the last year, we were able to assist 735,000 people throughout the division," said Dan Furry, Divisional Public Relations & Communications Director for the Salvation Army Northern Division. "That's a 136 percent increase when compared to two years ago, before the pandemic hit."
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The Red Kettle campaign exceeded its $2.15 million goal during the holiday season. According to Furry, the Christmas campaign makes-up 60 percent of the Salvation Army's annual budget.
"The money raised in this quarter funds programs year-round," he said. "Having a soft start in that quarter really creates issues."
Assistance requests aren't going away, either. Furry says that the Omicron variant sweeping across the area is just one of the challenges.
"We are anticipating a spike in requests for rent, mortgage, and utilities assistance," Furry said. "Clearly the effect of the pandemic is not over. I think we all expected two years later we might be seeing the tail end of it. It doesn't feel like it and it doesn't feel like it for the families we serve."
Nearly $4 million was given out in 2021 in emergency rental and utility assistance.
"We anticipate that could go higher," he added.
To learn more, to volunteer, or to support the organization’s work, visit SalvationArmyNorth.org.