The Austin Shriners Club and Austin Oriental Band donated a combined total of $400 Friday night to kick off the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign.

This year, the campaign began Friday as part of the Christmas in the City kick-off on Main Street.

The Austin Salvation Army hopes to raise $105,000 through its kettle campaign this Christmas season. This annual fundraiser provides services all year for those in need. Donations benefit the Salvation Army’s food shelf, rent and utilities, programs and more.

The Salvation Army is still recruiting families, groups or businesses to sign up as bell ringers. The kettles are manned each day, normally in two-hour shifts, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the season, from eight locations in the city.

Some businesses are matching funds with whatever their employees raise during a day at the kettles. The corps hopes to see more of those challenges this season.

Smaller kettles, sans bell ringers, are being set up on counters of stores, as well.

The campaign ends on Dec. 23.

If you have questions about bell ringing, want to sign up or establish a challenge, call Stacy Wisemore, volunteer coordinator for the Austin Salvation Army Center, at 1-507-437-4566. You can also sign up for bell ringing at www.registertoring.com.