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PARKERSBURG - Red kettles and volunteers will be out this morning as the Salvation Army in Wood County kicks off its drive at local retailers.

Maj. Vernon Dolby, commander of the Parkersburg unit, said the kettle drive is for more than the Christmas season needs.

"First of all we make sure everything is taken care of for Christmas," he said. "Then funds leftover from that go back into the kitty to continue service for as much of the year as we can get it through."

Dolby said the campaign will begin at 10 a.m. today with the kettles at Vienna and southside K-mart stores, Foodland on Plum Street and in Vienna; Kroger, southside and Seventh Street; J.C. Penney, Belk and Sears. Kettles will be set up at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club on the day after Thanksgiving.

The kettles will be out until 3 p.m. Christmas Eve. Dolby said the late start at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club is because of a national contract between the company and the Salvation Army.

The contract states the Salvation Army will be the only organization allowed to set up at the stores between the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, he said.

Kettles also will be set up in Ripley and Ravenswood beginning this morning.

While some reports suggest the economy may be improving, Dolby said the number of people asking the local Salvation Army for help is greater than last year.

"The demand is definitely greater this year," he said. "We have had more people coming in for assistance who have never been in here before. Many times you get people who have been here in the past and still have a need because the economy has been down and it has been so bad."

Last year's collections were down from 2007, he said.

"Hopefully, the economy has picked up enough so we can beat that," Dolby said. "Last year we had individuals who were donating and this year the same individuals are coming in and saying they need help."

At least 150 people have come in for the first time, he said. Dolby said they have applications from more than 600 families and more will come looking for help.

"We had our initial signup; however, we know there are going to be more because they did not read it in the newspaper or hear it on the news and all of a sudden they see and hear the bells out there and they think 'I need to hurry up and get down there and apply,'" he said. "It's already done but that does not mean we won't take applications."

Dolby said many times there will be layoffs just before Christmas that leave some with nothing or families lose everything in a fire.

"We still help them," he said. "They didn't apply, but we're going to help them. The need is there and we need to meet that need."

Volunteers are needed to ring the bells at the kettles.

"You can adopt a kettle," Dolby said. "We invited individuals or groups to ring bells for a day or days. We start at 10 a.m. and go until 8 p.m. You can choose to ring the bells at any of our sites."

Volunteers may ask to work a particular site and can volunteer for an entire day, part of a day or multiple days, he said.

There will be no collections on Sundays. Those interested in volunteering can call 304-485-4529, ext. 203.