Special to Dorchester Banner/Salvation Army Alexander Abram, age 2, is ringing the bell for The Salvation Army at Walmart in Cambridge. Everyone can be part of the joy of Christmas and help others by ringing a bell, even the smallest among us.

CAMBRIDGE — The Salvation Army is in the home stretch of its annual Red Kettle campaign here on the Mid-Shore and they find themselves in an uphill climb to reach the goal of $70,000 by Dec. 24. “At this moment we are $40,000 away from that goal with only about 11 days left to ring,” Lieutenant Aaron Abram said. “We are hoping to collect $70,000 because we have based our assistance budget for the year around that number.”

All money collected in the Red Kettles is used here in the local community where it was raised to assist at Christmas and throughout the year with food, utilities, homelessness prevention, and other services.

Lieutenant Abram is asking that as you pass a kettle in the coming days you consider what you can spare to help those in our community who are in need. “We know that many people are struggling this year and that giving may be difficult but we hope that everyone would consider giving as generously as they can. Coins, bills and even checks can be placed into the kettles.”

The Salvation Army could also use volunteers for the remaining days because the more spots that are covered the more funds that are raised. Lieutenant Abram said, “We love for people to volunteer to ring at kettles because those kettles are always full at the end of the shift. This is due in part to the fact that people volunteer with friends and family and make it an enjoyable experience. When people are having fun at the kettle their joy is contagious and it leads to more giving from donors.”

Volunteer shifts are from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and there are locations in Cambridge, Easton, St. Michaels, Denton and Centreville. If you would like to volunteer please contact The Salvation Army at 410-228-2442 and speak with a staff member to schedule a time. The shift can be covered by working as a group and splitting the hours as needed.

Lieutenant Abram and his family have been ringing this season as they do every year. This is in part because they want to teach their children about the importance of helping others whenever possible. “This is a great way to teach a child about the joy of giving and about looking out for the world around them. Plus, they’re just so cute it is hard for anyone to pass them by without dropping something in,” Lt. Abram said.

We also have a way to give online at www.onlineredkettle.org/tsacambridge. If you would like you could even setup your own online red kettle and tell your friends and family about it. All donations into the online kettles are sent right back to the local community they are raised in as well.

Lieutenant Abram said, “We know that together we can reach this goal of $70,000 by the 24th. We are asking our neighbors to partner with us in the coming days to help us continue our mission to Bring Hope to Maryland’s Mid-Shore, One Life at a Time.”

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a broad array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.