BINGHAMTON SALVATION ARMY IN SUMMER SLUMP
REQUESTS QUICK RESPONSE TO MAIL APPEAL;
60% INCREASE IN FOOD PANTRY REQUESTS

The Salvation Army of Binghamton is experiencing a slump in donations this summer and is requesting donors to respond as quickly as possible to its emergency mail appeal, announced Major Ronald Lee, commanding officer of The Binghamton Salvation Army.

“Typically, The Salvation Army experiences a drop in donations during the summer months, but this year, we are facing a greater shortage and it has become a critical situation for us,” said the Major.

At the same time,“this summer we have experienced a 60% increase in food pantry requests and a 12% increase in our soup kitchen attendance,” he said.

“To aggravate the problem, this greater demand has brought food pantry supplies way down. It has meant that the Army has had to reduce the amount of groceries provided to families to enough for three days every three months,” he said.

With gas prices soaring and food prices on the increase because of transportation costs, the Major does not expect the situation to improve soon.

“With demands rising, The Salvation Army is faced with a critical shortage of resources and funds,” said Major Lee. “What we used to be able to buy, now costs more. It’s a double whammy.”

To assist during this “critical downturn of the economy,” the Major asks that individuals who have received the most recent mail appeal, marked “urgent,” please respond with a tax-deductible donation as soon as possible.

Those who have not received a mail appeal can send their tax-deductible gift directly to: The Salvation Army,127 Washington Street - P.O. Box 1167, Binghamton, NY 13901.

“I’d like to thank the many people in this community who respond so generously to our pleas for help. The Salvation Army can only assist those in crisis because so many care,” said the Major.