The sights and sounds of the holiday season are officially here as the local Salvation Army and agencies across the U.S. kick off their annual Red Kettle Campaign to raise funds supporting their operations for individuals and families in need. Captain Rhegan Stansbury of the Marinette Salvation Army- which actually serves residents in both Marinette and Menominee Counties- says they’ve seen an increase in requests for assistance as the pandemic stretches on, making this year’s campaign more important than ever.

In order to still host physical kettles during the pandemic, bell ringers will be asked to remain socially distanced while they’re collecting donations and are required to wear masks. Stansbury says there are also digital options for people to give, including Google and Apple Pay, QR codes, or new virtual kettles that can be set up through the Red Kettle Campaign’s website.

You can sign up to ring bells for the Red Kettle Campaign or make a donation by going online to registertoring.com or calling the Marinette Salvation Army directly at 715-735-7448.