With the holiday season approaching, residents will soon be seeing a familiar sight outside local stores: volunteers ringing bells and standing beside red Salvation Army kettles.

The Salvation Army of Williston is beginning its annual holiday donation drive. The group is also seeking local volunteers to help ring bells and participate in helping food and assistance to those in need during the holiday season.

Maj. James Castor with Salvation Army of Williston said they will begin their kettle campaign at 10 a.m. on Nov. 20 at Economart. He said they are looking for volunteers to donate any time they may have, be it an hour, a couple of hours or even a full day to help their efforts to make the holidays better for those in need.

"Last year we touched the lives of about 1,900 people. We're looking at about 2,000 this year," said Castor.

Castor said their fundraising goal for this year is $92,000. He said the money will go towards providing emergency assistance, Christmas assistance and food to the needy and elderly in Williston and the surrounding areas. The Salvation Army goes around town to local businesses to see if they want to put their smaller counter kettles on display as well. Castor said the participation from businesses and the community overall are both very strong during this time of the year.

"We always see things start to pick up around this time of year. Church organizations and local clubs begin to call. Actually we've already been getting calls," said Castor.

Castor said those in need of holiday assistance can do so by calling the Salvation Army office or by stopping in to apply beginning Monday.

With the generosity of the community, the Salvation Army was able to gather enough food and supplies to provide 165 holiday food baskets and over 600 toys for children last year.

"We just really appreciate all the participation and all the support the community gives, it means a lot," said Castor.

Castor said the local schools begin their annual food drives to gather items for the baskets and for Christmas meals during the first week of December. He said several local banks and businesses also participate by having "Angel Trees" in their businesses.

Castor said there will be a lot of hours put in by volunteers when it's all said and done.

He said hours at the six kettle locations in Williston are from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and between them and the period they'll be running, there will be a few thousand hours of time volunteered altogether.

"With groups such as all the local Lions Clubs, Rotary Club, high school students, and all the other clubs, there will be over 200 volunteers just ringing bells," said Castor.

Thanksgiving will be the first major part of their holiday activities. Castor said their annual Thanksgiving dinner will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Heritage Center this year and they expect to serve around 275-285 people.

He said they already received a donation of turkeys "from a group of bikers who came to town" and at this point they could use some volunteers willing to cook the turkeys.

Castor said they'll be taking donations at the Salvation Army, at kettle locations or taking money donations online.

He said things get busy before Christmas, between putting together food baskets for elderly and shut-ins, getting meals prepared for families and toys for children and doing whatever else they can to help people have a better holiday.

"It's been a rough year; although the economy is really well around here, there's still a lot of people who need some help. We have to be really grateful to our community that they're so willing to do what they can to help others," said Castor.

To volunteer to help Salvation Army during the holidays by ringing bells at one of their kettles, call 572-2921. To make a donation, call the same number or mail it to the Salvation Army at 15 Main St., PO Box 420, or visit one of their red kettle locations. Donations can also be made online by visiting www.thesalarmy.org/williston.