BLOOMINGTON - A short season and rough weather kept The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign from reaching its $210,000 goal this year.

Capt. Scott Shelbourn said the 21 kettle locations throughout Bloomington-Normal raised about $202,000 - the same as last year.

That amount does not include whatever the agency gets when it auctions off the 1-ounce Canadian maple leaf gold coin and 1922 silver dollar that were dropped in kettles this year. Shelbourn said the coins and a variety of other items found in kettles, including a ring, will be auctioned next week.

The ring was dropped in a kettle last year, he said. No one has claimed it so it will be auctioned.

While the kettle campaign has finished, the mail arm of the fundraiser will continue until Jan. 16. The total fundraising goal is $340,000. Shelbourn said the agency has raised about 90 percent of that goal.

"Looking at years previous, we should be right in the ballpark of making our goal," he said.

This year's goal is $8,000 more than last year in an attempt to meet the increased demand for help from The Salvation Army. Shelbourn said there are more people using the agency's food pantry and asking for rent and utility assistance than ever before.

Campaign proceeds go toward operation of the food pantry, emergency assistance program, summer youth camps and Safe Harbor homeless shelter.

The agency has a separate fundraising effort underway to help pay for a new $2.5 million Safe Harbor shelter currently under construction at the corner of Oak and Jefferson street. Shelbourn said the new shelter is expected to be open in late February.

"The principal construction should be finished the third week of January," he said.

That will allow time to move in furniture and open the new building for tours before the old shelter at 212 Roosevelt Ave. is closed and clients move to the new building.

"It could have never been done without the support of the community," Shelbourn said of the new shelter. "Folks need to see what they've built."

The new building will accommodate both men and women - something the Roosevelt location has not been able to do for years. The old building has lead paint which is harmful to children so women are not allowed to stay overnight at the facility.

The new facility also will house services currently being offered at Compassion Center at Second Presbyterian Church, including case workers, a GED program, mental health services and employment counseling.

Shelbourn said that move, like the ones for clients, will be seamless from one day to another.

There also will be room for the agency's food pantry, freeing up space in the community center's gymnasium. Shelbourn said that will allow the gym to be used for its original purpose. The youth programs can be expanded and the gym also will be available to Safe Harbor clients.

Donations for the Safe Harbor building fund or The Salvation Army's annual fundraising campaign may be mailed to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 3186, Bloomington, IL 61702-3186. Specify the use of the donation.