Economic woes burden area Salvation Army

By Bernard Baker

Published: November 8, 2008

The increasing likelihood of a national recession and Danville’s sluggish economy may make this one of the Salvation Army’s more difficult years.

Capt. Allan Tanner, of the Danville-Pittsylvania County Salvation Army, said more people have signed up for assistance this year. Roughly 750 families already have signed up for assistance during the holidays. That’s up from 630 last year.

The Salvation Army also is looking for about 400-500 volunteers to work kettles to save the organization at least $15,000.

“We want to push volunteers, volunteers,” Tanner said. “We will be in a lot better position to do what we need to do with volunteers.”

If the Salvation Army can avoid hiring people to ring bells, that’s another way it can use local dollars to help local people.

Tanner said the kettles are out in the community for about 28 days to help raise funds.

He said he knows the economy is tough and donations will be tight, but the Salvation Army wants to help each person who comes through its doors. The Salvation Army also is looking forward to working with radio stations WBTM and WAKG for Christmas Bucks for Kids, Tanner said.

Tanner expects 3,000 children to need help from the Christmas Angel Tree program this year. Last year, the Salvation Army helped 2,000 children with gifts of toys, coats and clothing.

Tanner said a lot of people seeking assistance this year have never needed help before from the Salvation Army.

“We’ve seen several first-timers come here seeking help,” he said.

The Salvation Army provides a meal at Thanksgiving that feeds a couple hundred people. It also provides food bags for families who don’t have enough to eat and toiletry bags for residents at local nursing homes.

Contact Bernard Baker at or (434) 791-7986.