Lydia and Michelle Pritchett, from the Children’s Home Society, ring the bell for the Salvation Army at the Vienna Sam’s Club on Friday as Belpre resident Barbara Allen makes a donation. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

MARIETTA — There are less than two weeks remaining to volunteer or donate for The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The campaign began two weeks before Thanksgiving and is scheduled to conclude on Christmas Eve.

Major Todd Hughes with the Salvation Army in Marietta said they have made $10,000 out of their goal of $40,000.

“We’re way behind compared to last year,” he said. “We’re usually closer to $30,000 at this point.”

He said they tend to see more donations closer to Christmas but the colder weather and snow storms can impact the campaign. Hughes said they have a few regular volunteers during the week but other organizations and larger groups will typically volunteer on Saturdays.

Hughes said they’re closed on Sunday but they receive a lot of their donations on Saturday when the stores are busier.

“I’ve been putting the kettles out around noon with as cold as it’s been,” he said. “It’s difficult to collect when it’s raining or really windy but light snowy days aren’t as bad.”

Hughes said they have kettles at the Walmart and Kroger in Marietta as well as the Kroger in Belpre. He said they would have kettles at more locations but there aren’t enough volunteers and they only have three paid workers.

“These upcoming Saturdays will hopefully be busier,” he said. “Hopefully we get some larger donations soon.”

Hughes said a lot of people don’t always carry cash on them so another way to donate is by scanning the QR code here or on their Facebook page at tinyurl.com/3w3khnpr.

“Every amount matters, because a little turns into a lot,” said Hughes.

At 3 p.m. Friday, The Salvation Army in Parkersburg had a few volunteers at the Sam’s Club in Vienna and the kettle outside the Walmart in Vienna was vacant.

Officials at the Salvation Army did not return contact attempts in time for print.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsanddsentinel.com