Fewer coins jingled into the Salvation Army's red kettles this Christmas.

The Salvation Army is $60,000 short of its $240,000 goal for its annual Christmas fundraiser. The campaign raises about half the organization's budget for the Bismarck-Mandan chapter, said Michael Bommarito, director of operations and developments for the Salvation Army-Bismarck Mandan

"It was surprising, because there was no Katrina (fundraising)," he said. "There was a lack of a sense of urgency."

In 2005, local agencies were squeezed for donations because of national relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina and tsunami relief in Asia. In 2004, people were helping with fundraising efforts after three hurricanes swept through Florida.

This year, there have been no national fundraising efforts on the scale of Katrina. Agencies had hoped it would help focus people's giving locally.

The Red Kettle Campaign is a two-prong fundraiser. It consists of red kettles at businesses for people to donate money, and a mail-in campaign. The kettle donations brought in $115,000, which was $20,000 short of its goal for this segment of the campaign. This also was less money than it raised through the kettles last Christmas, which was $125,000, Bommarito said.

A strong local economy also could have lead to less giving, he said.

"Some people could say those who need assistance should get a job," he said. "Most of whom we're helping are the working poor."

The Salvation Army provides a food pantry, help with rent or utilities and an after school program to help with childcare. This holiday season, it helped more than 350 families, including 1,085 children.

Other services provided by the Salvation Army include outreach programs to hospitals nursing homes and prisons.

Donations will still be accepted for its mail-in portion of the campaign until Jan. 31. The donations can be made online or by mailing a check. Donations postmarked by Sunday are tax deductible for 2006 and will count toward 2007 taxes beginning Jan. 1.

Checks can be sent to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 4205, Bismarck, N.D. 58502 or online at www.thesalarmy.com/bismarck.htm.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)