A donation of up to $2 million in matching funds makes Friday and Saturday the days to donate to The Salvation Army.

According to Beverly Mayfield, envoy at the local Salvation Army, all donations made to the International Falls organization and others across Minnesota and North Dakota will be doubled.

“No matter how you donate – at a kettle, online, by phone or in person – every dollar you give will be matched,” Mayfield said. “This matching opportunity is both amazing and historic...It's a blessing. ”

The match is made possible by a small group of anonymous donors who pooled together $2 million worth of matching funds to get The Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign back on track in Minnesota and North Dakota. Kettle donations are down in both states.

Mayfield added the effort is the largest two-day matching gift in Salvation Army history.

According to salvationarmyusa.org, the organization's Red Kettle Campaign, which is its largest fundraiser, had five fewer days to collect this year because of a late Thanksgiving. That timing along with widespread winter storms in early December could cause a shortfall of $20 million in donations by the time the campaign ends Christmas Eve. The site said such a shortfall would be a large drop from previous record-breaking years.

As a result, Salvation Army officials say it’s possible the organization will not meet its national fundraising goal for the Christmas season.

Mayfield said one problem at the local level is the lack of volunteers to ring bells at the kettles.

“It is important someone stands at the kettle to meet and greet those who are giving and thank them for their donation,” she said. “I don't have enough people stationed at the sites we have.”

She said people can still contact the Salvation Army at 283-3394 to volunteer before 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve when the kettles will be removed from Stewart's Super One, K-mart and County Market.

“We thank everyone for their generosity during this time of year,” Mayfield said. “People are a blessing to those who may not have a bright Christmas without the generous donations of others.”

Mayfield said what is collected locally, stays within the community to provide critical services to people's neighbors in need at Christmastime and throughout the year.

According to the organization's website, $25 helps give a child clothing and school supplies, $50 helps feed a hungry child for a week, $75 will help keep a family warm during the winter, and $100 will provide five nights of shelter for a homeless family.

For added incentive, the site said, here’s an idea of how donations – big or small – will pay off in 2014. Each year, about:

  • 60 million meals are served to the hungry.
  • 10 million nights of shelter are provided for the homeless.
  • 19 million individuals receive basic social services.
  • 4.2 million individuals receive holiday assistance, including presents for underprivileged children and seniors, as well as heat and utility assistance for families in need.
  • 300,000 kids experience the joy of summer and day camps.
  • 800,000 senior citizens are served with lodging, food, exercise, emotional and spiritual care.
  • 200,000 men and women will undergo a six-month counseling program for drug and alcohol rehabilitation at The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers.
  • Thousands more are met with job training, referrals, education, life skills classes, and employment.
  • Thousands are provided with food, shelter, material and financial assistance after a natural or manmade disaster.

For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org.