Weyburn Salvation Army Captain Raelene Russell says while cash donations to the agency's Red Shield fund-raising campaign are good this year, donated-food supplies are beginning to dwindle, and suggests people may want to unload some of their non-perishable food items before heading for holidays this summer.

"The money that people donate, we can go and buy things with. But if they donate non-perishables, then we can allocate the money to other things," she explained.

"The food donations tend to wind down during the summer months, and that's probably because people head off on vacation."

Money for general operations in Weyburn, fortunately, she says, seems to be good at this point.

"Things are still going well with the Red Shield Appeal and money continues to trickle in, which is great."

Beginning fiscal year April 1, 2005, Weyburn Salvation Army has collected around $8,000 from its Red Shield campaign, roughly the same amount as at this time last year. Russell hopes to have hit the $20,000 mark by March 31, 2006.

Russell says most of the money collected goes to helping Weyburn families in crisis like people who have been the victims of domestic abuse or family house fires, and to help sending kids to camp. Some, though, goes to making use of services in Regina such as shelters, detox clinics, and providing services at correctional facilities.

The bulk of the money collected, however, stays in Weyburn.