The Salvation Army is nearly $39,000 short of its holiday fund-raising goal, a deficit that could threaten the agency’s assistance to Lawrence’s poor in 2003, its administrator said Friday.

“It’s just a sign of the times,” said Rich Forney, Salvation Army administrator. “People are more careful with their finances. The support we’ve had until this point has been exceptional.”

The agency had hoped to raise $75,000 from its well-known red-kettle drive during the Christmas season, plus another $125,000 from mail-in donations solicited from the community.

The red-kettle goal was met, Forney said, thanks to a matching grant from Hallmark Cards Inc. But mail-in donations have fallen far short of the target.

Forney said that if the money didn’t come in by Jan. 15, he would be forced to cut programs that help the city’s poor keep up with their payments on rent and utilities.

“I would certainly hope we could take in the additional finances by then,” Forney said.

The Salvation Army gave rental assistance to 61 people in 2002, down from 99 in 2001. The agency provided help with utility bills to 190 people in 2002, down from 235 people in 2001.

“As soon as we make the money available, it’s gone within an hour,” Forney said of the programs.

Forney said he had started looking for ways to trim the agency’s budget, including reducing its vehicle pool. He has ruled out cutting staff for now, he said; the agency’s homeless shelter at 946 N.H. and food programs are also in no immediate danger.

“I’m doing everything I can to cut costs,” he said.

¢ 6News video: Salvation army short of goal

The shortfall comes at a bad time, Forney said, as demand for some forms of assistance grows. For example, the food program served 21,001 meals in 2002, up from 12,251 meals in 2001.

“With more people out of work,” he said, “more people are approaching us.”