NILES — With only three days left in the Red Kettle Campaign, the Niles Salvation Army is in desperate need of funds and volunteers to contribute.

As of Wednesday, the campaign is at only 32 percent of goal, which totals less than $40,000. 

The Niles Corps office supports southeast Berrien County and all of Cass County.  Without this funding, the local office will be forced to cut back on much needed programs normally provided to those in need.

The money collected each year goes to providing the operational and program funding budget for the local office. All funds collected in Niles, Buchanan, and Berrien Springs stay in the local office. The funds collected in Dowagiac go toward the operations in Cass County.

“Part of the problem has been inability to recruit volunteers for our various sites around our area,” said Tim Douglas, coordinator of volunteer services for the Niles office. “We have 14 sites around the area, but all the bell ringing sites in the world are useless without volunteers to man them.”

Douglas invited the community to contribute their time if able. 

“Of the 14 sites we have, only two will be manned full-time, and five other sites will be manned part of the time over those days.  We normally ring between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day. We normally operate in two- or three-hour shifts and I am recruiting anyone who might be interested to assist up until Saturday morning.”

For those who cannot volunteer, Lt. Joseph Hixenbaugh asked them to donate what they can.

“For anyone who is unable to assist by ringing bells, we urge everyone in the community to assist with their contributions in the kettles,” Hixenbaugh said. “If you happen to be at a site that does not have a kettle, you can still donate by dropping it off at our office, or you can donate by texting SANILES to 41444.   Every penny helps.  We may only have three days left, but we are really going to push to make them the best three days for the entire campaign.”

To volunteer or to assist in other ways, please contact Hixenbaugh or Tim Douglas at (269) 684-2660.