ELYRIA — If they can raise $15,000, they will get $15,000.

Just as the leaders of the Elyria Salvation Army were working on a plan to deal with a $38,000 funding shortfall, a longtime anonymous donor presented them with a challenge. If it could rally the community to donate $15,000, he would match that with another $15,000.

The prospect of nearly erasing the deficit without cutting programming or employees has Capt. Paul Pelletier putting out a plea to the public.

“It’s not easy, because the people of Elyria have always been so generous, and I don’t ever want anyone to feel as if we don’t appreciate what they do,” he said. “But I have two choices: either raise the money or reduce the mentoring program and cut employee hours. I don’t really want to do either of those.”

The Christmas holiday, the time when the Salvation Army is most visible with their funding needs as red kettles and bell-ringers take up posts outside retail stores, was a tough donation season in 2009.

Donations were down $38,000 over 2008 collections. Pelletier believes the drop in donations may have a lot to do with the economy.

“I can only assume it’s the concerns about the economy,” he said.

Once the board realized it would have less to work with in 2010, Pelletier said a plan was made to cut the budget by $20,000 and try to raise $15,000 to $20,000 more in donations. Then, the organization got word of the donor’s offer.

“If that could happen, that would get us close to where we need to be,” he said.

The nonprofit operates with an annual budget of about $623,000, which includes gifts of service that are given to the Salvation Army to lighten its load.

The mentoring program in jeopardy is a key program the budget supports, Pelletier said.

Dale Jones, program director, said without it dozens of young boys would be affected.

“If this program was cut, they would be missing out on having some male role models actively involved in their lives, as well as the opportunity to fully discuss issues facing their world,” he said. “These are young men who have issues dealing with adult authority. The main focus we want these kids to get is some self-confidence, respect of adults and to recognize the value of a good education.”

The program puts men from the community in the local Elyria middle schools to mentor sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade boys.

But the group also tries to leave the school building when possible.

Just recently, Jones said the mentoring program, in a partnership with the Lorain County Urban League, took more than 100 boys to see a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game. It was the first time many had ever been to a pro basketball game.

“It felt good to be able to share that experience with them, but without financial support we will not be able to do those sorts of activities,” Jones said.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

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