New technology helped the Salvation Army increase holiday donations last year, but for other local charities giving took a dive as the nation's economy weakened.

Between Nov. 19 and Dec. 24, 2008, the Salvation Army in Greater Columbus' Red Kettle Campaign generated more than $531,500 in donations, up almost $10,000 from the 2007 holiday season, said Alice Hohl, the organization's spokeswoman.

The increase in donations might be attributed to the group's use this year of technology that enabled people to give by sending a text message from their cell phones, Hohl said.

However, total donations still came in below the Salvation Army's goal of $565,000. The group hoped to raise more this year, Hohl said, because it expected more people to need help.

Directors at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and Faith Mission said they expect their holiday donations will be up from 2007 to 2008 but could not provide numbers.

But other agencies, including the Homeless Families Foundation, saw their holiday charity drives bring in fewer dollars during the 2008 holiday season compared with 2007.

The foundation expects its donations will be down 10 percent once a final total is calculated, Executive Director Adrienne Corbett said.

The dip in contributions is a blow to the foundation, which provides housing to families for up to 80 days, Corbett said.

"It could likely mean layoffs," she said. "It will definitely affect what we are able to offer people."

The Homeless Families Foundation will launch a second appeal for donations in the spring to make up for the winter loss, Corbett said. Staff members also will seek new grants and donors.

Franklin County Children Services also will look to increase contributions to the agency's Holiday Wish program after donations slipped almost $30,000 from 2007 to 2008.

The number of children who received gifts also dropped from 5,337 in 2007 to 3,964 in 2008. The decline is caused by the agency's decreased caseload and social workers' aim to give to the most-needy children, said Doris Calloway Moore, the agency's spokeswoman.

Donations at A Special Wish Foundation, an agency that grants wishes to ill children, are down 30 percent, said Ramona Fickle, the foundation's founder.

"That hurts. Charities are hurting. Families are hurting. We're all hurting."

Fickle said the foundation served 15 more children in 2008 than the previous year.

This year, A Special Wish Foundation will work to bolster its volunteer ranks to help coordinate more fundraisers, she said.

Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio received half as many donated cars in 2008 as the organization did in 2007, a decrease of 12,000 vehicles.

Money from the auto auctions pay for Volunteers of America's homeless shelters, veterans programs and job-placement services.

The organization will spend 21 percent less on advertising for the first six months of 2009 compared with the same period last year, spokeswoman Megan Ericson said.

Dispatch correspondent Jessie Balmert contributed to this story.

sherri.williams@dispatch.com

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