PITTSBURGH, June 23 (UPI) -- Red kettles will be out in western Pennsylvania in July as the Salvation Army tries to make up a shortfall in Christmas donations, officials said.
Salvation Army officers said while people gave $1.6 million in the 28-county region during the 2003 holidays, the division faces a deficit in its $24 million budget.
"While we don't want to wear out our welcome, we need to make our best effort to recoup our losses," Lt. Col. Joe DeMichael, commander of the Salvation Army's Western Pennsylvania Division said in a statement Wednesday.
The Salvation Army food pantry in Allentown was nearly empty earlier this month, the Allentown Morning Call said. The pantry handed out enough food to make more than 13,500 meals from January through April.
If a red kettle and the familiar ringing of bells is not at a familiar location next month, people can donate by logging on to the Salvation Army's Western Pennsylvania Web site, salvationarmy-wpa.org.
