Salvation Army bell ringers are outside stores around the Merrimack Valley, soliciting spare change from holiday shoppers for the red kettles. But if you're one of those people who only carries plastic in your wallet, the Salvation Army will take your gift online this year as well.
"This opens up another avenue," said Lt. Jeff Hardy of the Haverhill Salvation Army. "People can drop in change or checks, but this way we are able to reach more people and reach our goal."
According to the Salvation Army Web site, individuals, groups and businesses can raise money for the organization by creating an online red kettle. To set up an online kettle, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or through a virtual red kettle on any number of corporate or individual Web sites and Facebook pages.
Online red kettles can be personalized with photos or graphics and linked to other Web sites and also can be visited and donated to by family, friends and customers.
The 118-year fundraising campaign kicked off last week in Lawrence and on Nov. 9 in Haverhill. It will run through Christmas Eve.
"The bells have always been a tradition and people associate Christmas with the red kettles," said Capt. Keith Campbell of the Lawrence Salvation Army. "That is why the campaign has been so effective."
Money collected through the red kettle campaign, is used to buy toys for children at Christmas, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry, and to provide social service programs.
The Salvation Army in Lawrence has 12 red kettle collection locations in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover.
Campbell said their goal for the Lawrence area is to raise $100,000, and to help close to 1,000 families during Christmas and the rest of the year.
In Haverhill, Hardy said their goal is $25,000 to help 475 families. The Salvation Army has 15 seasonal workers and volunteers at six locations, including supermarkets, drugstores and the post office.
"The money we raise at Christmas is more than a wash for us," he said. "It helps us assist people at Christmas and through the year."
For Campbell, their collection is down 11 percent from this time last year. It's the opposite for Hardy, who said they are 25 percent ahead of 2008, possibly because they started their campaign one week before.
Both Campbell and Hardy are confident they will reach their targets.
"We're going to reach our goal by the grace of God and the people," Hardy said.
Campbell agreed.
"I put my trust and faith in God and he will provide."
