Salvation Army predicts record year

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - As its Season of Hope campaign starts, the Salvation Army in Fargo is getting much busier. Officials say this could be a record setting year.

The type of person asking for help has changed. Salvation Army officials say they're seeing about 10 more people coming in daily for things like rent and prescription assistance.

Officials say about 170 people signed up for this year's Season of Hope meal program. That's about 10 percent of last year's total numbers already. Steve Carbno says many people who were living pay check to pay check before now can't make ends meet.

And it's a new type of person, one who's been laid off or has never asked the organization for help before. Carbno says the economic stresses are still taking a toll, here.

"We see somebody, two months ago that it was a food basket. Now, this month they're asking for some help with prescriptions. Maybe next month, it's going to be that rent help, or whatever. So, we're seeing those numbers continue to grow."

Carbno says, more than ever, this year is crucial for their Red Kettle campaign. More than half of their budget comes from bell-ringing and this year, the campaign starts November 18th.