Jun 26, 2002 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

Salvation Army officials hope that the generosity people display in December will be duplicated when they hold a “Christmas in July” fund-raiser, starting next week. Philip Hostetler, the program assistant at the Uniontown Salvation Army, said the familiar Christmas kettles will be out at stores from July 1-31, in hopes that summertime donations will keep the local branch from going into debt.

“This year is the first in about seven or eight years that the Salvation Army in Uniontown is finally out of debt, but the way things are this year … if we don’t get more donations, we’re going back into debt,” said Hostetler.

He said that Christmas donations were “average,” and that, locally, the organization slightly exceeded its goal of around $40,000.

The money collected at Christmastime is the primary source of funds for programs at the Salvation Army. Those programs, said Hostetler, go directly to the community and include a food bank and lunch programs, disaster relief efforts and emergency assistance.

Although some chapters of the Salvation Army have an annual “Christmas in July” fundraiser, Hostetler said it’s been several years since the Uniontown one has held such an event.

But, while the Salvation Army has around 100 volunteers who line up for the December fund-raising campaign, only three or four organizations – and far less people – have come forward to help in the summer effort.

Hostetler asked that any church or organization whose members would like to volunteer to stand with the kettles call him at 724-437-2031.