Red Shield: Salvos appeal for funds as COVID-19 dries up donations

Although this year’s Red Shield Appeal is officially over, there is still time to make donations online or in person. Traditionally the group conducts a doorknock appeal on the last weekend in May, but this has not been possible due to COVID-19 precautions so they have been trialling an online donations portal instead. Salvation Army major Scott Norman, who is in charge of the church’s Mid West, Gascoyne and southern Pilbara operations, said at just under $5000 donations were well down on last year’s $10,000 or this year’s $11,000 target. “It’s tough in society at the moment due to recovery from the COVID-19 virus and maybe for some people the Salvation Army has not been as visible,” he said. “In 2019 we supported approximately 35 families a week, and with the brilliant government assistance we were able to maintain a budget of just under $8000 a month. “That is quite a bit more than the $11,000 we were trying to raise but it is a start.” Captain Norman said the fundraising website would remain open. “If people want to make a donation they can use the website or they can come to the Salvation Army building in Ainsworth Street.” The address is Digitaldoorknock.SalvationArmy.org.au.