Lebanon County charities behind on their fundraising goals for the holiday season

The Francis J. Dixon Foundation presented an investment of $10,000 to the Lebanon Salvation Army to help meet the nutritional needs of families in Lebanon County. Presenting the check on behalf of the F.J. Dixon Foundation were Sherry Cassel, Executive Director, and Robert Phillips, Vice Chairman. Photo from left to right: Captain Amy Portillo, Lebanon Salvation Army Advisory Board Chairman David DiNunzio, Sherry Cassel, Captain Ernesto Portillo and Robert Phillips. (Photo: Submitted)

(Lebanon) — Lebanon County’s Salvation Army and United Way holiday fundraising campaigns are both still somewhat short of their goals during the 2017 holiday season.

“Our donations her at Lebanon as of today is 75 percent of our goal with three days left to go,” Captain Ernesto Portillo of the Salvation Army of Lebanon said on Thursday. “Last year at this time we were at 85 percent.”

This year’s goal is $105,000.

The Red Kettle campaign typically runs until Dec. 24, but since that date is a Sunday this year, the campaign will close a day early, according to Portillo.

“The community has been very supportive of our programs this year and I want to say thank you,” Portillo said. “If they can just help us a little more – give us a little push over the next few days – that would be a tremendous blessing to us here.”

Donations have been down throughout the region with The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware reporting in at 50 percent of its overall goal.

Proceeds from the Red Kettle campaign help provide year-round programs and services to local residents who are in need of food, shelter and utility assistance, emergency disaster relief, as well as numerous educational, music and after-school programs throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, according to a news release issued by the organization.

Cash donations are accepted at any of The Salvation Army’s red kettles during the remaining days before Christmas and secure credit card donations can be made online at https://protectus.mimecast.com/s/NS2SCo2nGQUqJqBxh1Se37?domain=salvationarmypa.org or by texting KETTLE to 41444 on a smartphone, according to the news release. 

The United Way of Lebanon’s campaign has raised $1,036,790 of its $1,750,000 goal for the holiday season. 

“In this holiday season, the Lebanon County community has again shared its wonderful support for the important work of our United Way,” Bob Hoffman, 2017-2018 Campaign Chair, said in a news release issued by the organization. “We have a challenge ahead of us, but with the continued support and generosity of our community, we know we can do it!”

The 2017-18 campaign runs through January 31.

The campaign total to-date consists of corporate gifts, individual donations and employee campaign pledges of all sizes.

United Way supports 31 program partners throughout Lebanon County, focusing on improving the health, education and financial stability of every person in the community, according to the news release.

 

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The Lebanon Daily News.