LIMA, OH (WLIO) - While the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over for most of us, the Lima Salvation Army is still hard at work.
Thanks to the community's generosity, their Red Kettle Campaign made just over $119,000. Their goal was $128,000 to help fund the programs they offer throughout the year. The kettle donations did help them meet their needs at Christmas.
Thanks to the community's generosity, their Red Kettle Campaign made just over $119,000.
"Toys for Tots did great. That program is just blowing it up. Our Angel Tree is great. Great response from the community on both of those. So those were fine. So, all the needs were met. You know we'll put it that way. I think we helped over 1,700 kids easily this year and around 900 and something families," said Paul Downing, operations manager at the Lima Salvation Army.
Christmas for the Salvation Army helps them go beyond Christmas, and that shortfall of about $8,700 will be felt in the programs that they offer. One of those is the student pantry they offer to Lima Senior High School students. In the few years they have offered it, the number of students signed up has more than tripled.
"We've had, I think, 260-plus kids we have signed up and come over. We've actually had to reduce days that we're serving them just simply because we don't have the product to give them. So we want to get that backup. We want to serve those kids; obviously, it's a need," added Downing.
Contact the Salvation Army at 419-224-9055 to see how you can help.
The Lima Salvation Army also offers tutoring, character-building, summer camps, and more for the kids. Their programming for adults includes rent, utility, clothing, and food assistance. They are working to make families whole and need your help to do so. Contact the Salvation Army at 419-224-9055 to see how you can help.
