At the beginning of June, the Salvation Army announced a $50,000 budget shortfall, which it said could lead to the organization’s closure.  Captain Srikant Bhatnagar said thanks to a successful summer fundraising campaign, the doors would stay open.

The Salvation Army has shut down once before six or seven years ago, Board President Danny Jones said.

“We would have to shut it down and just sort of shutter it until we do the Christmas kettle campaign,” he said before the summer campaign.

Bhatnagar said since the summer campaign kicked off, the Salvation Army has raised around $17,000.

It’s not the $50,000 the organization needed, but more money is projected to come in through events like the upcoming charity golf tournament, Bhatnagar said.

“We’re going to make it,” he said.

The community is encouraged to continue supporting the Salvation Army, Bhatnagar said.

“Please keep helping us,” he said. “We don’t want to interrupt any programs until Christmas.”

Bhatnagar said the Salvation Army is very important for the community.

“It makes a difference in the lives of people,” he said. “If we can change one or two lives, it means our program is very successful.”

The Salvation Army provides emergency assistance programs such as rent, utility, clothing and furniture and emergency disaster services including personal care kits, bottled water, donations of clothing and furnishings, spiritual counseling and emotional support.

Emergency food assistance is provided via the Salvation Army’s food pantry and the Mission 66 Diner, which serves hot lunches every weekday.

The Salvation Army offers a number of youth programs for children such as after-school programs, tutoring, organized recreation, summer camps and character-building groups.

During the holidays, the Salvation Army sponsors the Angel Tree program and a holiday emergency assistance program.

To donate to the Salvation Army send a check to 530 Mission 66, Vicksburg, MS 39183, or to make a donation online, visit www.salvationarmyalm.org/vicksburg.

The Salvation Army also accepts donations of clothing, shoes and furniture to sell in its thrift store. Old, unusable clothing goes into bales, which the Salvation Army is able to sell as well.