Donations to Salvation Army bell ringers are down nearly 20 percent

BOSTON — With just one week left before Christmas, the Salvation Army's iconic Red Kettle Campaign is  hundreds of thousands of dollars short of its goal.

The organization is concerned many people who rely on the programs offered by the Salvation Army will suffer.

"It is a tough deficit and we wonder at times where will we be able to make those gains to provide the services that we do," said Major David Davis of the Salvation Army.

When many you hear the sound of the bell of the red kettle outside stores, that means the holiday season is here. It's a time for giving.

"I think people have to help those who are less fortunate, it’s just a good thing to do," said Joe Toffoloni of Westwood.

The 2018 Red Kettle Campaign started out with a boom, setting a goal of $3.5 million here in Massachusetts. But now, donations are down nearly 20 percent in half their locations.

"As we’ve been moving on we’ve been noticing many of our locations are not reaching their goals for this time last year," Davis said.

The funds raised during the campaign go towards year-round services in shelters, meals, clothing and disaster relief.

"It limits what we can do, so if you budget $30,000 in one community to help with social services needs and you run out of funds, that means that there’s some people in that community that will not be served," Davis said.

Davis said the shortfall could be simply because many people aren't carrying cash anymore. That's why they established an online donation portal and a simple text line to make it easy for everyone during the season of giving.

"I think it’s important for everybody to help those in need and I think it’s a good cause because these people deserve a lot of credit to be out here to do it," Toffoloni said.

To donate, visit the Salvation Army's website or text Kettle18 to 41444.

• Here's what's inside Boston's 'Christmas Castle'

Cox Media Group