Local pantries fared well Craig Beyl, manager of the Cub Foods east store, unpacks some of the 300 Hormel hams donated to Paul's Pantry Tuesday for distribution (photo by H. Marc Larson). Donations for holiday appeals reached goals at the last minute By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle The Salvation Army, after appealing for last-minute help during the holidays, surpassed its fundraising goal of $871,000. And while people were cramming coins and dollar bills into red kettles, the number of companies and schools that held food drives for the St. Vincent de Paul Society pantry doubled this holiday season. According to the Salvation Army's director of development, Paul Ross, "Up until the last few days before Christmas we were really down (in funds)." The organization collected $884,159 during the holiday season from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. Funds were collected from 53 red kettles dispersed throughout the area, mailings and unsolicited donations. New this year to the holiday fundraising campaign that supports the organization's operation and giving throughout the year was a giant red kettle at Bay Park Square Mall. Standing more than 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, and holding 800 gallons, the kettle created a focal point for the campaign. "It increased awareness of the campaign and it served as a point of reference," Ross said. He added that in the same area the Salvation Army displayed the tote board that marked fundraising progress. In addition to surpassing its fundraising goal, the Salvation Army also managed to reach its toy drive goal. The 12,000 toys that were donated were distributed to 5,767 children and teenagers in Brown County. Like its kettle-fundraising campaign, the goal for the toy drive was met at the last minute. "It seems as if most people are deadline-oriented," Ross said, but added that he was very pleased with the community's support. "If we put out an honest appeal they usually respond," he said. Around December 17, one week shy of its deadline, the Salvation Army had reached 58 percent of the $871,000 goal and had collected 6,000 toys. Around the holidays, the Salvation Army also provided 2,774 families with holiday meals consisting of fresh ham, vegetables, canned goods and milk. In 2003, it supplied 60,000 meals and 15,500 grocery bags of food. Ross said of people in the community, "It's obvious that they care for others," and he added that the organization pledges to use the funds effectively and wisely. What was unique about this year's Salvation Army campaign was that it received a great response up until Dec. 1 and then saw a sharp decline in the rate of donations received. Usually, Ross said, there is a slow start to the giving and people donate more later in the month. For the St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry, at least 30 small companies - double the number from last year - held holiday food drives and donated their collections to them, according to Angie Allard, general manager for the pantry. "You're seeing the business community become more involved with community organizations," said St. Vincent de Paul Society Director Craig Robbins. With a community the size of Green Bay, he said it still has a "small town mentality, neighbor-helping-neighbor" sense to it. In 2003 the pantry depended on 92,000 volunteer hours and 65,000 of those hours were voluntarily provided by individuals who also rely on the pantry for food. Also in 2003 the St. Vincent de Paul Society pantry donated 1 million pounds of food to other area pantries. While Manna for Life Ministries in Green Bay does not receive as much food from local food suppliers as do other pantries, Jim Hogenson, founder, said the pantry gave away 24,640 pounds of food in December. They had enough holiday turkeys but, now they need soups, pastas and canned goods.