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Salvation Army Appeals For Help In Meeting Red Kettle Donations Goal

By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Salvation Army is coming up short on holiday donations to its iconic red kettles.

The Salvation Army depends on donations to provide social services, shelter, food and other assistance to the poor and hungry. Major Robert Dixon, who heads the Philadelphia division, says the number of those in need is greater this year than last, and he is appealing to individuals, corporations and groups to help.

"People are in desperate need of assistance from the Salvation Army and they continue to come to us," Dixon says. "And we don't want to say no. We want to be able to help people. Their generosity and donations will help us to do that."

Online donations are also accepted through the Salvation Army website.

Major Dixon says the goal of the 2014 Red Kettle drive is $700,000. So far, about half of that has been raised.

"We're just asking that they dig a little deeper," he says, "so that we can continue to meet needs."

The bell ringing stops Christmas Eve.

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