Salvation Army Campaign Seeks $175,000 To Aid Local Families

The Salvation Army in the Central Susquehanna Valley kept its year end fundraising effort open as Christmas approached, asking the community to help reach a $175,000 goal for the Here. For Good. campaign. The initiative continues the long running Needy Family Fund, which has collected more than $3.8 million for local families since 1987, and it directs support to food, gifts, utility assistance and housing costs for households facing short term crises.

Organizers reported that demand remained strong heading into Christmas, a period when winter energy bills and holiday expenses often strain household budgets. Donations were accepted online at hereforgoodcampaign.org and at any Central Penn Bank & Trust branch, providing multiple local points of access for residents and businesses that wanted to contribute.

The campaign functions as a community safety net during a season when shortfalls are most acute. Over nearly four decades the Needy Family Fund has become a predictable source of relief for Central Susquehanna Valley families, and the $175,000 target for this year represents a continuation of that support. The cumulative $3.8 million raised since 1987 implies roughly six figure annual giving on average, reflecting steady community engagement even as individual needs fluctuate.

For Union County the immediate impact is practical and measurable. Funds distributed through the campaign pay for groceries and holiday gifts that reduce food insecurity and seasonal distress. Utility grants help prevent shutoffs during the cold months and modest housing assistance can stabilize families at risk of losing their homes. For local service providers such as food pantries, social service offices and community banks, the campaign’s funds lessen short term pressures and free up other resources for ongoing needs.

Beyond the direct transfers of aid, the campaign highlights broader implications for local economic resilience. Heavy reliance on charitable drives to fill gaps in basic needs points to continued pressures on low and middle income households, including elevated living costs and episodic income shocks. For policymakers and county officials the pattern underscores the importance of coordinating emergency utility, housing and food assistance with longer term programs that address affordability and income stability.

As the campaign ran through the holiday period residents and businesses could contribute at hereforgoodcampaign.org or at any Central Penn Bank & Trust location to help meet the goal and support families in the Central Susquehanna Valley.