Havre Salvation Army desperate for volunteers

Havre Salvation Army has only nine days left to raise money for next year’s social services budget and is in serious need of volunteers and contributions.

Havre Salvation Army Director Trina Crawford said this year’s Red Kettle Campaign, which makes up the next year’s budget for services, is 42 percent of the way to its $38,000 goal, one that, if met, would allow the organization to provide a little more assistance to people than they normally would.

“We wouldn’t have to say no so often,” Crawford said.

She said her organization doesn’t just give people aid, but tries to get an idea of what their needs are as a whole person and get them in touch with other services to help them, and meeting their goal will allow them to do more of this work.

However, she said, to meet that goal they need a lot more bell ringers, and right now they have massive holes in their schedule until the end of the campaign Dec. 24.

“We really desperately need people to man our kettles for us,” Crawford said.

She said they had no one at Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods Thursday and few today with no one at all at North 40 Saturday.

Next week is practically empty, she said, so the situation is really serious.

“I just need people,” she said.

Bell ringers are typically out between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and typically work in two-hour shifts, though many work longer or shorter ones, Crawford said.

She said the reason they seem to be having so much trouble this year for volunteers is that their typical go-to people are starting to get too old to do it, and they need new people, so she encouraged anyone interested to get in touch with her immediately at 406-390-3291.

She said they can also give through the website https://give-nw.salvationarmy.org/campaign/havre-virtual-kettles-2022/c427306 to donate or become a fundraiser.

As for the organization’s other activities, she said, they still have several Angel Tree Tags available at Gary Leo’s, North 40 and Walmart, though she said people will need to ask for them at Walmart as the tree for the display was recently bought.

Crawford said 172 children are signed up to receive presents from the program and she’s excited to be able to serve so many, more than they’ve ever seen in recent years, but they need as much support as possible to make it all happen.

As for the Adopt-a-Family program, which provides gifts to struggling families, including necessities like winter coats, they still have quite a few that haven’t been adopted.

She said these families are really struggling and she encouraged individuals and organizations like local churches to consider adopting if they can.

Crawford said anyone interested in either of these programs can get in contact with her organization at 406-265-6411 or email her at [email protected].

She said she wants to thank the community for what they already give and asked those who can’t give to consider praying for them.