Campaign reaches $1.38 million

PEORIA – The Salvation Army is just two weeks from the end of the 2012 Tree of Lights Campaign and has whittled away at the funding gap that existed at the beginning of the month. “The community has responded to our call for additional care and generosity in terms of supporting the Tree of Lights Campaign,” said Major Evie Diaz, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army. “The amount of significant community support in these last few weeks has pulled us closer to our Tree of Lights Campaign goal.”

With receipts processed through January 24, the campaign total is $1,389,397, which is a little more than 83% of the $1,670,000 goal. “Our Family Services has experienced increases in a number of programs over the past year,” said Captain Katherine Clausell, Divisional Social Services Director for The Salvation Army. “Increased needs also include the additional homeless drop-in center programming, but the most dramatic increases came with meals and feeding programs, especially our Lunch with Love program, which served 10,334 meals more in 2012 than we did in 2011,” said Clausell.

The campaign will collect donations through February 7th and conclude the campaign on February 8. Donations can be still be mailed to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655, by calling (309) 655 7220 to charge on American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa, or online at www.saheartland.org.