PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights campaign is now entering its second month.
Major Heath Sells says the campaign has reached about 40% of its $2 million goal for 2025, which is around $800,000. The campaign runs through January.
Sells tells WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show” that money goes towards services provided by the Salvation Army.
“A lot of our work is to keep people in their homes, and last year we spent $1.4 million on utility and rental assistance to make sure people stay in their homes,” Sells said.
Sells says the need is increasing, with around 600 to 650 homeless people in the community. He says the Salvation Army does not have the capacity to house everyone at the current time.
Sells also says one of the big problems with finding people housing are those with mental health issues. He says the problem has grown with some service providers leaving the area, and some people not being able to get the medicine needed for treatments.
Sells says they are looking into partnerships with organizations such as Trillium and Heartland Health.
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