The Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive kicked into high gear Friday. The organization is hoping to raise $50,000 with this year's efforts.
"This is extremely important for us," said Major David Feeser. "It's a good part of our winter budget and the services we provide during the winter. It goes to help with kids' Christmas and buy any other toys if we need to. If there's any money left over it rotates into the budget for the Center of Hope where we shelter and feed people."
Last year the Salvation Army raised $70,000 but they decreased this year's goal because bell ringers started ringing later than in years past.
"So many of the businesses we stand at have pushed us back until after Thanksgiving. We only had five spots before Thanksgiving. They're just slowly pulling back and saying they won't do it until after Thanksgiving which is fine but we just didn't have the kettles out before to make the same goal as last year," Feeser said.
Bell ringers will be out until Christmas Eve and are located in a variety of locations including the Walmart stores in Texarkana, Ashdown, Ark., and New Boston Texas, Hobby Lobby, JC Penney, Dillard's, Party Factory, both Walgreens in Texarkana, Sam's Club and Super 1 Foods.
Feeser wants people to remember the less fortunate as they walk by bell ringers this Christmas season.
"The money they're donating is going to help people in need," he said. "The Salvation Army has been here over 100 years, since 1896 and we have a track record of using donor funds to do what we say we're going to do. We help people in need whether it's Christmas time or any other time during the year."