Kroc Center Plans Affect Donations for Salvation Army

By John Impemba, jimpemba@nbc26news.com

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By John Impemba

The Kroc Center promises big things for Augusta, but plans for the $100 million facility have put a dent in private donations for the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army fills a variety of needs for both men and women down on their luck. But since the announcement of a $100 million Kroc Center, donations have fallen off.

"We're feeling the reaction of the community, of the misunderstanding that we don't have the funds yet. And even if we do get the funds, it's for additional programs," said Major James Hall. "We still need to maintain the same level of funding for existing and ongoing program that we've been running for a hundred odd years."

20 cars sit at the Salvation Army lot to be auctioned off later this summer. Last year they had about 120 cars -- just another example of how donations are off.

The city will have to raise about $35 million dollars for the Kroc Center. The McDonald's Foundation will then double that when and if the city can prove that it needs and wants a Kroc Center.

The facility will reach out to recreational, cultural and religious needs of the city. And it will be built on vacant land in Harrisburg, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods.

Many see it as revitalizing that part of the city.

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