Salvation Army exceeds holiday fundraising goals

By Dave Clark

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 | 2:54 p.m.

The Salvation Army Henderson Corps exceeded its holiday fundraising goal by more than $20,000, bringing in nearly $175,000.

The total was more than a $50,000 spike from last year's haul.

Coordinator Jim Reid said he was shocked at the totals, considering they arrived in the midst of a recession.

"We had the biggest increase of any group in the entire division," he said. "I was just blown away."

Reid said each corps in the division did well covering an area extending through Arizona and New Mexico.

"I think it's just the generosity of the community. I really appreciate folks coming through for us," Major William Cobb, the Salvation Army's officer in Henderson, said.

Reid attributed some of the Henderson Corps' success to an abnormally large group of 30 volunteers.

"We had more volunteers this year than any year I worked with them," Reid said.

One company paid employees to volunteer for the Salvation Army, he said.

Still, the Salvation Army had trouble keeping the more than 40 locations staffed, he said.

"People knew that the economy was bad, and everybody felt like they ought to help us," Reid said. "I think the bad economy was really an advantage to us."

The money raised will go to the Henderson operations to be used for feeding the hungry, distributing clothing and running the Adult Day Health Care Center.

Next year, Reid hoped to break $200,000.

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or [email protected].