With the kettle portion of the Albert Lea Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign just a week away from coming to a close, the organization is still about $30,000 short from reaching the kettle goal of the campaign, Capt. Jim Brickson said Wednesday.

Of the overall campaign goal of about $172,000, about $56,000 of that is hoped to come fraom kettles that will be out through Christmas Eve. The remaining goal comes from white mail and mail appeal donations, which can be collected until Jan. 15.

Brickson said the remaining kettle goal funds could be reachable by having all the bell-ringing sites manned. As of Wednesday morning, 74 bell-ringing hours were unmanned at the various locations around town.

Specifically there were 10 hours open at Nelson’s Market Place, two hours at Northbridge Mall, eight at Shopko and 54 at Walmart, according to the organization.

Brickson is making another plea, just as he did a few weeks ago, to all those who are able to stand in the cold for two hours.

“We are hearty Minnesotans and find many opportunities to enjoy the winter outside,” he said. “I believe in the generosity of all hunters, ice fishermen and winter enthusiasts to volunteer for just two hours at a time.”

When kettles aren’t manned, people are less likely to donate.

People who cannot donate time as a bell ringer can support through financial donations, he said.

Brickson said regardless of the outcome of the campaign, the Salvation Army will continue to provide services to residents of Freeborn County. He has faith that things will work out however they are intended.

Though the goal of $172,000 is at an all-time high, it is necessary to continue providing services with the amount of increased need there has been because of a downed economy, he said.

The organization still has to raise about $70,000 of its total campaign goal.

Christmas distribution

The Salvation Army will distribute toys, clothes and food to families in need next week during its annual Christmas distribution.

Distribution will be Monday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 6 p.m. and on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon at the old Buy-N-Save building on Broadway Avenue.

Families signed up last week for the assistance and have scheduled appointments to come through and pick up their items.

Last year, more than 700 children received gifts and more than 400 food baskets were given away.