Drive reaches 94 percent of its $60,000 target

Many are enjoying new gifts in the wake of the Christmas season, and the Salvation Army is no exception.

A count of the total donations brought in through its annual kettle drive reveals the Salvation Army in Austin has reached more than $56,400 in donations, or 94 percent of its $60,000 goal. The results were reassuring compared to many other chapters of the Salvation Army, which were down in donations this year, said Kris Maier, Salvation Army volunteer and special events coordinator.

“It’s very close,” Maier said. “I thought we were doing very well.”

She said this year was much like other years in that, as Christmas approached, kettle donations grew in size. But there were differences. The drive was eight days shorter in length this year than last year because it began after Thanksgiving, but each day’s donations were higher on average.

Several challenges helped spur donations, including the faceoff between the police and fire departments, while kettle matches allowed companies to chip to equal what bell ringers collected.

“I just want to thank all the volunteers for helping bell ring,” Maier said, adding the 100-plus volunteers were invited to a chili feed Friday night to recognize their efforts.

While the bell ringers have finished their shifts and the kettle drive has officially ended, Maier said there are still some donations coming in from walk-in donors.

“That could probably go on to the end of the year,” she said.