Lawrence Salvation Army Administrator Rich Forney said Friday morning his agency is $39,000 behind its holiday fund-raising goal.

The Salvation Army had hoped to raise $125,000 from mail-in donations during the Christmas season, but has so far raised only $86,000. The agency met its goal of $75,000 from the well-known bell-ringers this season, thanks to a matching grant from Hallmark Cards Inc.

If the shortfall isn’t closed by Jan. 15, Forney said the Salvation Army will have to cut rental and utility bill assistance to Lawrence’s poor during 2003. Homeless shelter and food programs aren’t threatened so far, he said.

To make a donation, call the Salvation Army at 843-4188.

For more on this story, see the 6News reports at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband’s cable Channel 6 and pick up a copy of Saturday’s Journal-World.