Donations down; Salvation Army bell ringers start early

In this file photo from November 19, 2006, Commanding Officer with the Portsmouth Salvation Army Major Chet Emmons, left, stands with Russ Grazier, right, outside the Portsmouth Branch.Amy Root-Donle file photo / 2006 PORTSMOUTH — Bell ringers for the Salvation Army will get a head start this year in trying to meet the needs of the organization's clients, which have increased 32 percent in the past six months. The Red Kettle Campaign will begin at some locations on Nov. 14 with the goal of matching last year’s total of $81,000. The campaign is starting a week earlier than normal, according to Major Chet Emmons, to try to meet the needs of a projected 200 families and thousands of individuals in the Portsmouth area who will seek help during the holiday season. Cash donations are already down and Emmons said the struggling... [read full story]