Ottertail County Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Ends Short Of Expectations

The Christmas holiday is behind us, and the sound of bells have ended once again. The kettles raise one third of the Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign funds. They want to thank all those who rang and helped to support people in the community who will need our services throughout the year. They have raised $78,255.01 out of our goal of $100,000.

The overall goal is $368,000 to be raised from the community of Ottertail County to help those in the community of Ottertail County.

“I get asked a lot if my funds stay local. I can guarantee that all the funds raised inside of Ottertail County stay within Ottertail County. If you dropped money into a bucket, sent a check into the Salvation Army, or donated online; it stays here inside the county.” said Captain Anthony Nordan, Corps Officer of the Ottertail County Salvation Army. “This also means that any shortfall in our fundraising campaign will affect the services we are able to provide to the county.

In comparison to prior to Covid our demand for services is still increased. In 2019 we served slightly more than 7,000 meals; in 2022 we served 12,491 meals.”

This year The Salvation Army of Ottertail County seen increases in food, gas, utilities, and rent. Over the past year they have served 12,491 meals, given out 11,033 food boxes, served 240 Thanksgiving meals, and helped 46 families through the Pathway of Hope program. While Covid restrictions may have ended the need from the community hasn’t.

Nordan said that ultimately fewer volunteers and bad weather at the end of the season were to blame.

Captain Anthony Nordan, leader of the Ottertail County Salvation Army, reports that donations for the season aren’t finished yet. “We still have a couple of days before the end of the year. If a check is mailed in prior to December 31^st it can still count towards this year’s campaign. Our building is also open to people walking in to donate. We invite people to come to our facility to see what their money and time bell ringing are going to support.”