For the Salvation Army, time is as important as money

With less than a week until Christmas, the Johnson County Salvation Army Corps is scrambling to meet an annual goal for the holiday season.

“Our goal is $250,00o, as of Friday we had about $180,000,” said Captain Terry Smith.

In recent years concern about making the goal focused on the economy, but this year the problem is with a lack in volunteers.  Smith said that only about half of their 16 locations in Iowa City and Coralville have bell ringers.

“We've tried before to have a bucket out and just leave it sit, and it gets maybe two or three dollars during an eight hour periods,” he said, “Having a bell ringer at our location really generates $200 to $300 to $400 dollars per day in that bucket.”

Smith said volunteering is just as important as donating.  He even offered other ideas for people who don't want to stand and ring a bell.

“If you have talent, maybe you can play a horn, a brass instrument, or a guitar, check us out we can get you out there.” he said.

The lack of volunteers isn't exclusive to Johnson County.  Captain Smith said he's spoken to several other counties that are dealing with staffing problems.

Shifts last for two hours, and some locations are indoors.  Anyone interested in signing up during this final push is urged to call the Salvation Army Corps in Johnson County at 319-337-3725.