Eastern Iowa Salvation Army Confident it Will Reach Holiday Donation Goals

By Kathleen Serino, Reporter

Lytle Goodwater of Cedar Rapids puts money into one of the Salvation Army's Red Kettles at the Hy-Vee Drugstore on Blairs Ferry Road in Cedar Rapids on Monday, November 16, 2009. This year's Red Kettle Campaign kicked of Monday at over 30 locations throughout Linn County with a goal of raising $640,000. The Salvation Army states that nearly half the support for their programs and services is raised by their holiday Red Kettle Campaign. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

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By Kara Kelly

Story Created: Dec 28, 2011 at 5:18 PM CDT

Story Updated: Dec 28, 2011 at 5:18 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Some Salvation Army Corps are asking for donations in reaching holiday campaign goals, which many are still thousands shy of, officials report.

According to Salvation Army Corps throughout Eastern Iowa, only the Salvation Army of Waterloo and Cedar Falls officially reported achieving 102 percent of their $677,000 goal. Still, locations in Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities reported today said both are approximately $65,000 short, while the Iowa City and Dubuque Corps are approximately $26,000 and $15,000 shy respectively. Clinton County also reported to be nearly at their $75,000 overall goal.

“We’re a little bit in limbo, but confident to reach our goals,” said Jim Sullivan, developmental director of the Heartland Division of the Salvation Army, who said mailed donations are welcomed through mid-February.

Since the inception of the holiday campaign 17 years ago, donation goals have stretched a bit more every year due to calls for service from other agencies or clients with special requests, Sullivan said.

Eastern Iowa and Central Illinois comprise the Heartland Division, where red kettle donations were up four percent last year, he added, noting although some communities have yet to reach their goals, Midwesterners always rise to the occasion to help.

In the Quad Cities, 700-pound, four-feet-tall kettles are still collecting coins at the NorthPark and SouthPark malls to help to assist in the year-end rush, said Development Director Holly Nomura.

Aside from counting small coins, reports of nine valuable coins were discovered in red kettles in various locations in the region, as well as a diamond engagement ring dropped in a kettle in Linn County, which was valued at up to $2,000. Of the gold coins donated, two were found in Waterloo, one in the Quad Cities, one was reported donated in Anamosa, two in Dubuque, and one was found in Coralville, which has been the fourth gold coin mysteriously donated in that area in recent years.

The Salvation Armies of Keokuk and Burlington were unavailable to comment.

Any donations offered through the end of the year are still counted towards campaign goals, and those people looking for year end tax-deductible gifts are welcome, said Mindy Kayser with the Salvation Army in Cedar Rapids.

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