Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign makes the 11-hour victory

Last week, the Salvation Army Havre Service Center was $10,000 short of its goal of $28,000 for its Red Kettle Campaign.

In the end, the Havre community came through and helped the Salvation Army exceed its goal.

Havre Salvation Army Social Services Director Trina Crawford said they raised $31,185.07 and, she added the total did not include any amount donated through the online Red Kettle Campaign.

“I’m not sure how long it takes them to compile those,” she said.

Crawford said the Red Kettle Campaign funds are part of their budget for next year. Some of the money is used to help people with rental services and hotel rooms.

She added that when they spend the money, “we make sure that it is an actual need.”

The Red Kettle Drive ran from Nov. 16 through Dec. 24 and was at four different locations this year: Walmart, Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, Holiday Village Mall and, the newest location, North 40 Outfitters.

Crawford said she would like to extend a “special thank-you to the locations.”

As for next year, Crawford said she isn’t looking to add any new locations to the Red Kettle Campaign.

“If my volunteer volume were to increase, there might be that possibility,” she added.

Any businesses interested in hosting a Red Kettle at their location could reach out to her, Crawford said.

She added that while the Red Kettle Campaign has ended, people can still donate to the Salvation Army online up to the end of the year to have it count as a tax deduction.

She said the Giving Tree also was a success and that “every child got quite a bit of things.”

The Adopt-a-Family was also a success with nine families being adopted out.

“I don’t think there was any family that — when they saw the things that they received and the food that was received on top of it, they were just overwhelmed,” Crawford added. “They were just, a lot of tears. A lot of exclamations of disbelief. It was pretty cool to see. That’s the fun part of doing this that I enjoy, getting to see the reactions.”

She said she wanted to thank the businesses and individuals who adopted the families, adding that “they really made a difference in people’s lives.”