An organization dedicated to helping those in need has started its holiday fundraising campaign earlier this year. MPB's Desare Frazier reports.
Volunteer Jamie Taylor is all smiles standing outside of a local Jackson grocery store. She's collecting donations for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Fundraiser. Taylor has benefited from their services and wants to give back.
"It is important to me because about a year ago I was living at the Salvation Army. I have a place and I just came back to volunteer," said Taylor.
Jennifer Stanley is the Director of Development with the Salvation Army of Jackson. She says they began the holiday fundraiser two weeks early. They usually put out the kettles the week of Thanksgiving.
"We're already at $63,177 and last year at this time we were $3,000 down, so we're trending pretty good right now," said Stanley.
Stanley says they hope to raise $500,000. Last year they were $2,000 dollars shy of that mark. The Salvation Army uses the money to fund a host of services, including a shelter, food, electric bill assistance, a children's after school program and helping single mothers obtain their GED and life skills. Jennifer Stanley.
"That money that we raise at Christmas helps carry us through until about July of every single year," said Stanley.
More volunteers are needed to help with the Red Kettle Campaign. Otherwise the Salvation Army has to pay bell ringers, which is money they could spend on providing needed services.
