Economy challenges Salvation Army

This is the first of a two-part project looking at charity and volunteerism in the 11 counties that make up GateHouse Media’s Western Illinois Division. Part 1 focuses on whether donations to the Salvation Army are meeting local needs and tracks giving in 20 communities over the past five years. Part 2 looks at the importance of volunteerism and the challenges of getting enough volunteer hours to meet growing demands for help. See online data base comparing donations and cost of services at www.MortonTimesNews.com.