Salvation Army Christmas kettles arrive Monday in Charlottetown

The annual Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign kicks off in Charlottetown on Monday.

The familiar red kettles will be seen in about eight locations across the city, including major grocery stores and malls.

The money collected helps pay for community services and programs offered by the Salvation Army year-round, said Major Daniel Roode.

"The Christmas Kettle campaign is the bread and butter of what the Salvation Army does for helping less fortunate, vulnerable people in our community," he explained.

"And I literally say the bread and butter because without the income that we get at Christmas, we would not be able to help people with food, with clothes and other means of assistance that they come to us looking for. It is our life blood for helping people."

Roode noted more volunteers are needed to staff the kettles, and that hundreds of shifts are still available.

In addition to the kettles, an annual Christmas letter asking for donations will also be delivered to Island homes by the end of the month.

The campaign wraps up on Christmas Eve, with a goal of raising at least $100,000 this year.

Last year's campaign raised more than $125,000, a record amount.