For the second consecutive year, the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign in the Quad Cities has surpassed its goal. Development Director Holly Nomura says their goal was 725,000 dollars, but they raised more than 740,000.
Money dropped in the Red Kettles and other contributions during the holidays account for 60 percent of the Army's annual budget. She says some of the money was used for this year's Angel Tree Program, which handed out 7,000 toys to more than two-thousand local children.
Nomura says thanks to the generosity of local residents, the Salvation Army was able to help over 8,500 families in the Quad Cities during the Christmas season. There were also special matching contributions from Hiland Toyota and Von Maur.
The number of people served by the Salvation Army has been going up in recent years. In 2011, 302 people stayed at its shelter. And that number rose to 364 last year.