The need has never been greater to donate to the Salvation Army campaign of Owen Sound.
Community and Family Services Director Alice Wannan says the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign is way down in numbers.
The campaign as it sits right now is only at 28-thousand dollars – the goal of the campaign is 58-thousand dollars.
Last year the same goal was met and surpassed by the kettle campaign.
Wannan says the kettle will be out until 2 PM Christmas Eve — and she hopes the donations will really start to come in from now til then.
Wannan says they have never seen a demand like this for services.
Right now the need for hampers is up 32-percent over last year with almost 600 families coming forward.
Last year the Owen Sound branch assisted 382 families with hampers.
Wannan says that is not the only area where the numbers have spiked.
She says they have also jumped high in the annual Salvation Army Christmas dinner that is offered in the city on Christmas day.
Last year Wannan says they had just over 170 people attend the dinner – this year – with over a week to go until the dinner – they have issued 215 tickets already.
Wannan says with the kettle campaign being well off the mark at this point – it could impact programs in the new year.
She hopes that people will continue to donate until the end of the campaign and they reach their goal.
There are kettle throughout the area as well as donations can be made on line at the salvation army website.