PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Salvation Army has completed a successful 2023 “Tree of Lights” campaign.
The organization announced that its fundraising campaign exceeded its $2.2 million target by raising $2,322,186.10. The money raised helps fund services the organization provides throughout the year.
Campaign chair Jen Klobnak says a “generous community” helped get the Salvation Army across the finish line.
“More and more people are just finding that at the end of the month, they can’t quite make ends meet,” Klobnak said. “And so, the fact that we were able to raise what we think is the need, but then to surpass it a little bit, just gives a little bit more room to help people in the community.”
The Salvation Army says the need increased in the Peoria area in 2023. There was a 43% increase in people receiving food through its Food Pantries, with 8,728 people served. There was a 50% increase in child care hours covered in the past year, with 73 new children signed up for the service.
Klobnak says there were some concerns about hitting the goal, citing less people shopping in stores and budgets getting tighter. But she says a late push helped get the Salvation Army across the finish line.
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