Salvation Army Capt. Pam Kasten said the red kettle goal this year is $70,500, which is an increase from $68,500 last year. The Marshalltown goal is composed of red and counter kettles, letter appeals and checks dropped off in person.

So bell ringers are one of the current biggest needs, as are workers for Christmas distribution.

More than 1,000 hours need to be filled for the campaign.

“Go online to registertoring.com and create a login. There, one can pick a day and time to ring bells or help with distribution hours,” Kasten said. “All we ask is that a family or individual commits to a two-hour shift.”

AP PHOTO
Donald Baca, right, drops money into a Salvation Army red kettle as bell ringer Mark Pearson looks on in downtown Seattle.

Kettles are located at Hy-Vee Food Store, Hy-Vee Drug Store, Walmart, Theisens and Hobby Lobby.

New this year nationwide is “kettle pay” which allows people to pay with their Apple or Samsung phone. However Kasten said the payment is made to the Salvation Army in the billing address of one’s phone.

“We have indoor and outdoor locations for people to choose, but no matter where or when, bell ringing is a great opportunity to get service clubs, church groups or families involved,” Kasten said. “We can even make it possible for friendly competitions to happen.”

One such example will be on Dec. 9 when the Marshalltown Police Department has challenged the Marshalltown Fire Department at Hy-Vee’s two entrances.

Money collected is used year round to help people with food assistance, utility assistance, youth programing and youth summer camps, as well as the toys and food distribution at Christmas. Around 180 families will be served locally this year.

AP PHOTO
Bionca Rawlins, 18, left, of Manhattan, and Colleen Lewis, 16, of Brooklyn, volunteer as Salvation Army bell ringers in New York’s Times Square.

“People can also bring in new and unwrapped toys/gifts for the Christmas campaign,” Kasten said. “The hardest age group to buy for and the one that has the greatest need is boys and girls age 10-17, as their gifts usually cost more to buy. The parents pick out the gifts for their children on a designated day nearer Christmas.”

Feast volunteering

The holidays are a busy time for the Salvation Army. Not only are the red kettles brought out but a community Thanksgiving feast is provided and more volunteers rounded up.

One holiday event that will require some volunteers on Monday is the annual deboning of the Thanksgiving turkeys.

The volunteer effort begins at 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army, 107 W. State St.

AP Photo
Salvation Army bell ringer Olga Nunes, right, rings her bell as she watches Edward Pestrollo put a donation in the kettle outside a store in San Jose, Calif.

Kasten said volunteering for the community meal prep work is something people like to do that doesn’t take holiday time away with family.

“Smokin’ G’s smokes the turkeys that morning and then we take the turkey off the bone,” Kasten said. “We shred and put it in the walk-in until the meal on Thursday.”

Kim Gratopp, co-owner of Smokin’ G’s BBQ Restaurant and Catering on Main Street, said they like to donate their time to the Salvation Army for the feast every year.

“We do not have a lot of free time to volunteer and do things,” she said. “This is a way for us to give back to the community.”

The Gratopps not only donate the time and the resources but the seasonings and the hickory-smoked flavor that the turkeys are prepared with before they are deboned.

This year, 20 turkeys — or 200 pounds of turkey — will be deboned. Kasten does not know how long the process will take. After the turkeys are smoked, it is an easy and quick process to pull the meat off of the bones.

That doesn’t mean the prep work is complete, of course.

More is done on Wednesday with potatoes peeled, prepared and placed in pans. Thursday morning, all of the previously prepared food will get heated up and tables will be set.

Kasten said volunteers are needed and appreciated.

For more information contact the Marshalltown Salvation Army at 641-753-5326.