PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Salvation Army Tree of Lights three-month campaign began Friday afternoon with a ceremony at Center Court of Northwoods Mall.
Money raised from the campaign helps provide food, shelter, and other vital services during the holiday season for those in need. It also funds 20% of the budget each year for the Salvation Army.
The goal for 2023 is $2.2 million, an increase of $200,000 from last year. The campaign has already raised $300,000, thanks in part to three large donations.
Major Heath Sells says the increase this year is partly due to inflation, and partly due to an increase in need for services provided by the Salvation Army.
“Across the board, we can see 50, some programs 100% increases from this time last year,” Sells said.
Sells says one area where the Salvation Army is seeing a greater demand is for food, with federal benefits running out for some people in that area.
With the start of the campaign, bell ringers will begin to appear across central Illinois to ask for donations. Sells says they have struggled in recent years to find enough bell ringers to get through the holiday season.
“Since the pandemic and COVID, we have had quite a bit of difficulties, frankly,” Sells said. “Making sure that our 22 Peoria kettle locations have been manned. Throughout the season, we need about 9,000 hours at our kettles.”
Sells says people can sign up online to volunteer to ring the bells, for shifts at around two hours each time. He says groups of people can also help to volunteer.
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