The Albert Lea Salvation Army surpassed its 2015 Red Kettle Campaign goal.

The Salvation Army raised about $260,000 — $68,000 more than its goal of $192,000.

“It was a blessing,” Maj. Elsie Cline said. “It was needed. It will help us be able to serve more people.”

Cline said there are more people seeking help for the first time from the Salvation Army.

The organization received almost $100,000 from its kettles, about $71,000 from its mail appeal, about $48,000 from other seasonal income, about $38,000 from unsolicited donations and about $4,000 from Internet donations.

Cline expressed appreciation to the Albert Lea community for its effort in the campaign.

“If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Cline said.

She thanked the people, churches and other organizations who she said made the effort possible through volunteering to ring the bells.

The organization raised a total of about $440,000 during the 2015 Christmas season. In addition to its Red Kettle Campaign, it raised about $62,000 from gifts for toys and about $119,000 for other gifts in kind.

The organization raised about $408,000 in its 2014 Christmas season, when counting all donations, whether food, money or toys.

Cline said she was pleased with food donations the Salvation Army received.

She said the Christmas season helps the Salvation Army throughout the year in its services. Some services the organization offers are a daily meal from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a social services program that includes a food shelf and emergency services. Cline estimated the Salvation Army feeds 10 to 45 families each day.

Kettles were located at Hy-Vee, Shopko, Northbridge Mall, Walmart and Marketplace Foods from Nov. 27 until Christmas Eve.

Forty-one counter kettles were also located at area businesses.

The organization raised nearly $41,000 Dec. 19 when anonymous donors matched donations collected in the red kettles.