Last year locals gave more than $500,000 to the Red Shield Appeal and this year organisers are hoping to be able to reach that figure again.

Major Lindsay Rowe yesterday said the Salvation Army hopes to get $550,000 ? (the amount they got last year) to fund the organisation?s urgent commitments.

May is Red Shield Appeal month and one of the Army?s responsibilities is the emergency housing complex on Marsh Lane in Pembroke that was recently forced to close its kitchen and cut back on security staff.

The cutbacks were a casualty of the new Employment Act, which stipulates that staff must be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours a week.

?The new Employment Act placed quite a bit of pressure about how we were manning ship at the emergency housing complex,? said Maj. Rowe.

Last year, $72,000 was allotted to the emergency housing complex out of the $550,000. But the Army found itself $150,000 short after Government did not increase its annual grant to cover the overtime pay requirement.

Yesterday at the kick off to Red Shield Appeal month Maj. Rowe spoke on the Salvation Army?s mission.

He said: ?The Salvation Army is a church and it is a church on a mission. That mission often means that we are the last hope for many of life?s most marginalised and forgotten people.?

The homeless are not the only ones who benefit from the Red Shield Appeal. Money raised last year also goes to seniors and youth programmes. Both the Golden Milers Club and youth services received $10,000 each.

The largest chunk of money ? $230,000 ? goes to community and family service programmes, which includes food vouchers and prescription help.

Maj. Rowe said: ?Our experience is that the need continues to grow and we must be prepared to continue and even expand upon the unique ministry of the Army in Bermuda.?

All of the proceeds from the Red Shield Appeal stay in Bermuda and for all Bermudians in need, Maj. Rowe said.

Donations may be mailed to The Salvation Army PO Box HM 2259, Hamilton, HM 12 or dropped off at our Divisional Headquarters at 92 Reid Street.