It’s nearly that time of year again – the time when bells ring throughout the city, and The Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles appear. To mark the first day of the Red Kettle Campaign, The Salvation Army will hold a kettle kickoff on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 11am to noon, at Balis Park in San Marco.

At the event, Voices In Praise, the student choir from Trinity Christian Academy will sing a Christmas ensemble, while friends and supporters of The Salvation Army gather to ring in the kettle campaign and stuff the first kettle.

Red kettles will begin at Avenues Mall beginning November 8, Winn-Dixie November 17, and select Wal-Mart, Publix, and Sam’s Club locations will be added after Thanksgiving. Ringing will take place Mondays through Saturdays through Christmas Eve.

Funds raised from kettles support The Salvation Army’s hunger and homelessness programs throughout the year. The Salvation Army’s food pantry gives supplemental groceries to 250 income-eligible households each week. The meal ministry program serves meals to the homeless and working poor every night of the year. Last year alone more than 142,000 meals were served (including meals served to shelter residents). The Salvation Army’s Towers Center of Hope provided 51,856 nights of shelter last year. All funds given to kettles stay in the community where they were received.