(KAIR)--This time of year is traditionally known as a time of giving, but for at least one charity in Atchison, the charity is just not coming in as much as they hope. Iola Brubaker is the Atchison County Coordinator for the Salvation Army, says that with just three weeks to go until Christmas, they are only at about 24-percent of their goal for the red kettle campaign, which is $30,000. Those funds go to support their services to the community such as helping people pay for rent and utilities.

Brubaker thinks that some of the reasons donations are down include not as many people wanting to come out in the cold to ring those bells as well as people hesitating to take off their gloves to get out a donation. She also cites the recent economic uncertainties in the United States as a possible reason.

However, she is optimistic that things will turn around soon. She feels as though Atchison is a very generous community and she has been amazed at how residents have been reaching out to help others during the holiday, but it is going to take quite a bit of work to get to that goal before Christmas.

Not all area charities are experiencing low donations. Terry Knopke Executive director for the Atchison area United Way says they are over 80 percent of the way towards their holiday fund raising goal, and hopes to reach that goal by the end of the year.

If you would like to make a donation to the Salvation Army, you can go to their website www.salvationarmyusa.org or call the local Atchison office at 367-1207.