There hasn't been too much snow on the ground.

However, folks at The Salvation Army in Austin know the holiday season is just around the corner and they're gearing up to help out the less fortunate.

Lori Espe, the group's volunteer and programs coordinator, said there will be a kickoff at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 25 on the Mower County Courthouse lawn to start this year's bell-ringing campaign.

"It's when they light up the tree to initiate that it's started," she said. "Then, we go right into dispersing the kettles."

Austin locations for bell ringing this year include Hy-Vee, Cashwise, Shopko, Oak Park Mall, Target, Kmart, Jim's Super Valu and Sterling Main Street.

The bell ringing will continue until 4 p.m. Christmas eve. There will be no bell ringing on Sundays, Espe said.

The Angel/Sharing Tree starts on Nov. 27 and runs through Dec. 13.

"It's to help the children who are going to need Christmas toys and stuff like that," Espe said. Those who are interested in adopting a tag can pick one up in center court at Oak Park Mall in Austin.

Those who are requesting to be put on a list for their child must turn in their applications by Dec. 10.

Nov. 24 will find people packing Thanksgiving baskets in afternoon, then delivering them the following day, Espe said. Deadline for applications to receive a basket is Nov. 20.

The center will host a Thanksgiving community dinner from noon to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.

"If there's anyone who's going to be home alone or needs some fellowship, we encourage anyone and everyone to come," Espe said.

Another fundraiser the group is planning for is the Homeless For a Day event.

"People sit in a box and have a chair, TV tray and a cell phone and call as many as possible in an hour to help raise funds for the Christmas campaign and to help make awareness toward some of the programs that we do," Espe said. "We try to make light of it, because it's not fun being homeless."

Espe said each one of the following programs are looking for volunteers. Those who are interested can call either Espe or kettle coordinator Jim Middleton at 437-4566.

Dan Fields can be reached at 434-2230 or by e-mail at dan.fields@austindailyherald.com