Salvation Army officials are getting a little help from their friends.

After what has been a tough summer for the local non-profit organization, the United Way’s board of directors will make a $15,000 donation from their Emergency Fund to assist the Salvation Army in paying its bills.

“The Emergency Fund was established to help agencies who are in a financial crisis that could result in their doors closing and vital services to the community being stopped,” read a statement released by the United Way Tuesday.

The agency must be a current United Way-sponsored agency in order to receive money from the Emergency Fund.

Maj. Marlys Anderson of the Salvation Army said she recently sent a plea out to the community and sent a letter to all of the organization’s major donors telling them of the situation.

“In the summer we fell behind,” Anderson said. “Every summer we do, but it’s never been like this year.”

Anderson said clothing and other types of donations to the Salvation Army’s Thrift Store were down this summer and added that the organization survives on the proceeds from the thrift store, as well as from donations and some grants.

Food shelf donations were also down, and it was becoming a struggle to offer the free nightly community dinner that usually brings in 60-80 people.

“Our cook was really having to stretch and be creative with what she could come up with,” Anderson said.

Things are looking up though.

Since Anderson’s plea, thrift store and food shelf donations have picked up, including major contributions from Hormel, and the recent $15,000 will help as well.

“This money the United Way is giving us is allowing us to get caught up, and hopefully we will be able to keep current when the Christmas season comes,” Anderson said.