Salvation Army asks for help to reach campaign goal before Christmas

Ida Gerson smiles as she greets people while she rings her bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive outside Hobby Lobby on Southwest College Road in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Each year around the holidays, you can hear the sound of bells ringing outside local stores from Salvation Army volunteers working hard to bring in donations to help families in need for Christmas.

With about a week and a half left of the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign, the Ocala/Marion County Salvation Army is asking for help from local businesses and the public to meet their $210,000 campaign goal.

As of Dec. 12, the organization has collected about $115,000 toward its goal and has until 5 p.m. on Dec. 23 to collect the remaining amount of donations needed to help families in Marion County, said Maj. Forrest McIntyre of the Ocala Corps.

“The money goes to support the local residents at Christmas. We’re going to be helping about 375 families with toys, food and shelter,” McIntyre said. “It also helps throughout the year to pay the food bill and the different social services the Salvation Army provides throughout the county.”

Donation locations:

Salvation Army Ocala Corps: 2901 NE 14^th St., Ocala

Publix at Forty East Shopping Center:  3450 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

Publix at Grand Oaks Town Center: 2575 SW 42^nd St. Unit 100, Ocala

Publix at Pearl Britain Plaza: 2655 NE 35^th St., Ocala

Publix at Churchill Square: 303 SE 17^th St. Unit 201, Ocala

Publix at Belleview Regional Shopping Center: 10301 US-441, Belleview

Publix at Heather Island Plaza: 7578 SE Maricamp Rd. Unit 100, Ocala

Publix at Heath Brook Commons: 5400 SW College Rd. Suite 200, Ocala

Publix at Canopy Oak Center: 8075 SW SR-200 Unit 111, Ocala

Publix at Park View Commons: 3035 SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala

Publix at The Shops at Foxwood: 2765 NW 49^th Ave. Unit 301, Ocala

Sam’s Club: 3921 SW College Rd., Ocala

Walmart: 2600 SW 19^th Avenue Rd., Ocala

Walmart: 4980 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

Walmart: 17961 US-441, Summerfield

Walmart: 34 Bahia Ave., Ocala

Walmart: 9570 SW SR-200, Ocala

Harveys: 3435 N Pine Ave., Ocala

Winn Dixie: 7131 N US Hwy 441, Ocala

Hobby Lobby: 2400 SW College Rd. Unit 500, Ocala

Walmart Neighborhood Market: 7855 SW SR-200, Ocala

Publix at Rainbow Square Shopping Center: 11352 N Williams St. STE 400, Dunnellon

Publix at Cherrywood Market: 9570 SW 62^nd Ave., Ocala

Walmart: 11012 N Williams St., Dunnellon

To donate online to the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign, visit givesalvationarmy.org