Salvation Army bell ringer Leland Sands has been volunteering for three years now. He is close friends with Santa Claus, who rings bells for him and can be seen at the Tops in Westfield.

OBSERVER Staff Report

Bells are ringing, but donations are lessening.

That is the word from the annual Red Kettle Campaign in Dunkirk, which is down $9,000 as of Dec. 3 compared to one year ago.

“Our annual Red Kettle Campaign is running behind and we need the community’s support to meet our goal this year,” said Major Chris Ramirez of the Salvation Army in Dunkirk. “With just 2 1/2 weeks to go, we have raised a little over $21,000; this is just 21 percent of our $57,000 goal.”

Less fortunate area residents are the ones most likely to be impacted by the decrease in the campaign. According to Ramirez, the agency provides quality programming to 250-plus local children through The Bridge, an after-school program designed to keep our youth off the street and in a safe and healthy environment with tutoring assistance, a character building program and a basketball club.

In the new year, the Dunkirk Salvation Army hopes to begin new programming for children including music classes and Sunbeams, a life skills program designed to reach girls ages 6-11.

“We also provide assistance with food packages for area families,” Ramirez said. “Each month 170 families who are in need due to being out of work or not having enough to make ends meet receive food from our pantry. We deliver meals to 30 isolated residents through our Meals On Wheels program each month.”

As for the holidays, there are 150 families currently registered for holiday assistance. “The need is great and we need our community’s help to meet this need,” she said.

For more information or to make a donation, contact the Dunkirk Salvation Army at 366-3701.