Volunteers are needed in Kewaunee, Algoma and Luxemburg to ring the bells and man the kettles for the Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle Campaign.

The campaign raises funds for Salvation Army programs to help those in need in local communities across the country, providing a range of food and clothing to social services. The organization says it is the longest-running charitable drive in the country, having started in San Francisco in 1891.

Sheriff Matt Joski, one of two Salvation Army voucher writers in the county and an organizer of the local effort, said in a press release the campaign provides help year-round to residents who are going through difficult times. Funds are used to help with everything from rent to utility payments.

Joski also said that experience has shown donations to the kettles are more likely when volunteers are on hand ringing the bells than if the kettles are unattended. With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, he noted bell ringers can say "Thank you" to donors from behind their face masks and maintain social distancing because donors can put their own money into the kettles.

Red Kettle locations in Kewaunee County are:

• Kewaunee: Piggly Wiggly, 931 Marquette Drive; and Center Court Convenience & Liquor Store, 1614 Center St. (at State 29).
• Luxemburg: Stodola's IGA, 602 Center Drive; and Simonar Shell, 1625 Main St.
• Algoma: Denny's SuperValu, 510 Fifth St.; and Bearcats Fish House, 295 Fourth St.

The county's campaign will run from Nov. 27 through Dec. 24. Shifts run two hours.

To ring bells at the any location, visit registertoring.com, click on the tab to sign up as an individual or group ringer and follow instructions. Interested ringers for the Kewaunee and Luxemburg sites also can call Joski at 920-255-1100, and those who want to volunteer in Algoma can call Jerry Guth at 920-487-5491.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Volunteers sought to ring bells for Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign