Salvation Army looks to grow in Grundy County

During the holiday season, the Salvation Army has become a ubiquitous presence across the country: the organization is known for placing bell ringers outside of major shopping centers, and it got a national plug last Sunday when Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott jumped into a life-size kettle on the field after scoring a touchdown. What people may not know, however, is that the Salvation Army actually has a chapter in Grundy County, and local representative Jane Katzer of rural Conrad is hoping to increase its outreach to help more families in need.
           
The Salvation Army assists individuals and families in a variety of ways, including with energy, living and grocery costs, as well as providing disaster relief in hard hit areas, and Katzer reported that the group has seen an uptick in requests this year.
           
“In the last year alone, the help that we gave out covered 19 children, so the need is there,” Katzer said. “The increase started in 2014. (Before) we had to help people, but not to the degree that we’re seeing now.”
 
Read more in this week's Grundy Register.