Salvation Army of Bloomington more than halfway toward Christmas campaign goal

Posted on December 8, 2020
Money raised during the Make A Difference campaign is used throughout the year to fund local programs. (Facebook/Salvation Army of Bloomington IL)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOOMINGTON – The Salvation Army of Bloomington shared an update on its annual Christmas campaign, and so far, over half of the goal has been raised.

As of Monday, $257,867 has been raised towards the $500,000 goal. Over $73,000 has been donated to the iconic red kettles, while other sources have produced $183,893.

Money raised during the campaign is used locally for different programs, said Salvation Army of Bloomington executive director Angie Bubon. There are also added expenses this year due to COVID.

“Like having to purchase PPE for our shelter staff and direct service staff. We’ve had to kind of adapt our feeding programs at the shelter and make changes that have led to other expenses. We are still doing what we do every year to help the community, but we are just seeing those added expenses in the way we’ve had to adapt our programs,” said Bubon.

The Make A Difference campaign runs through Christmas Eve. To volunteer or donate you can visit sabloomington.org.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…