LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Leaders with the Salvation Army for the Texas South Plains are tallying up donations from this year’s Red Kettle Campaign. This year’s goal was $275,000. The nonprofit received $204,914 in donations.
Russell Clay, one of the leaders for Lubbock’s Salvation Army, says the gap in funding will create a year full of hard decisions and fewer resources.
“It will impact how much we have to help those in need and how much we have for food in the shelter. So, there’s going to have to be some hard decisions as to how and what we spend this money on,” Clay said.
DONATE: Click here to donate to the Salvation Army Texas South Plains online
In 2024, the Salvation Army served 51,467 meals across their 13-county service area. Clay says the need only continues to grow.
“We see what the community is feeling,” Clay explains. “Tighter budgets, less things being spent. Times are hard, but the need is still great and it grows every year.”
Clay wants everyone to understand; the Salvation Army is thankful for the help and donations they have received. The nonprofit will just need, “a little bit more” to help people this year.
The best way to help is to use this QR code for the Salvation Army. All the money stays here on the South Plains.(Provided by Salvation Army Texas South Plains)
The best way to do that is financially through the nonprofit’s QR code. Giving this way makes it easier for them to track how much they have and where it can go. However, Clay says if someone can’t donate, they can volunteer instead.
“There’s always something you can do for the Salvation Army,” Clay says. “Whether it’s help us feed in our kitchen, (or) help us do different things throughout the year. We have VBS that we could always use help with. We have a store that you can always help with…sort clothes, help us get it on the floor. So, that way we can make more money to be able to help those in need.”
Any donations given to the Salvation Army will stay within the South Plains community.
“It’s all about giving homes to the homeless, food to those who are hungry, but for me – most importantly – it’s sharing the love of Christ and giving hope to those who don’t have it,” Clay says. “So, the Salvation Army is what we like to say, heart to God, hand to man, and we just want to share that love to mankind.”
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