HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — We're heading into the 'Season of Giving' and the Salvation Army is looking for your help during their Red Kettle campaign.
The Salvation Army has been around for more than 150 years and the mission stays the same.
Major Mark Smith, one of the Corps Officers at Huntsville's Salvation Army say, "We help people with their needs, our hurting neighbors, our people that are struggling...We try to help them improve their life"
And a lot of the ways they're able to help those in need is through the support of the community.
Every year they host one of their biggest fundraisers, the 'Red Kettle' campaign.
I'm sure you're familiar with the site of a red kettle outside your local grocery store and the sound of a bell ringing with a smiling person wishing you a "happy holidays."
But you might not know where that money inside the kettle goes.
Major Smith shares, "It helps us feed people…we help people with electricity at various times. And it allows us to do that and really help people meet their needs in critical times in their life."
This money allows the Salvation Army to help people year 'round and donating is simple.
You can put cash directly in a red kettle or you can scan a QR code connected to the kettle, "That brings them to a landing page to make a donation."
And if you don't see a kettle near you, you can still donate via the website, HuntsvilleKettle.org
Major Smith adds, "You may not know that it's your very neighbors that are suffering right now, but it may be… so, we're hoping that everybody that can, takes part in what we're doing."
And if you are unable to donate, the Salvation Army is still looking for volunteers to help ring bells and sort toys.
Or you can take part in the 'Angel Tree' program helping more than 1,000 children in Huntsville receive gifts on Christmas morning.
Major Smith says, "It's a beautiful thing because it helps us connect people that need help, with people that want to help."