Norwich – The familiar red kettles and the ringing bells that accompany them will once again be a mainstay in the region starting Monday as the Norwich Salvation Army launches its annual fundraiser for the holiday season.

The annual kettle drive, with a goal of $70,000 this year, will run daily from Monday through Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Norwich, Uncasville and Colchester Stop & Shop supermarkets and at the Norwich and Lisbon Wal-Mart stores. The Norwich Salvation Army serves Norwich, Griswold and Preston.

Kettle drive donations fund numerous operations for the nonprofit human services agency, including a food pantry, rent and utilities assistance, holiday food baskets for local families and programs that visit elderly nursing home residents, Norwich Salvation Army Capt. Jerry Uttley said.

But he said the highly visible kettle drive is just one aspect of the Norwich branch's preparations for the holiday season and the new year. Volunteers and donations also are needed for holiday food baskets, an Angel Tree adopt-a-family program and for the daily food pantry.

Volunteers are needed for the Salvation Army's Christmas basket and toy packing session which will be held Dec. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Artspace gallery, 35 Chestnut St., Norwich.

As in past years, the Salvation Army is seeking business and group sponsors for the kettle drive. Businesses can post a sign above a kettle for a $1,000 sponsorship for the season. Or, a business or group could adopt a kettle for one day, with its staff or members ringing the bell in shifts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Stop & Shop or Wal-Mart stores.

Uttley said he set the annual kettle drive goal $10,000 lower this year in recognition of the region's struggling economy. Unfortunately, that same struggling economy also has caused an increased demand for Salvation Army services, he said.

Food donations of non-perishable items, such as cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, stuffing, cereal, Jell-O, yams/sweet potatoes and gravy are being sought for the Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets. The Salvation Army also can accept donations of turkeys, ham or chickens.

Donations can be brought to the Salvation Army's temporary quarters at the Cornerstone International Church, 169 Franklin St., Norwich. Call (860) 889-2329 for information. Online donations also can be made at the Salvation Army website, ctri.salvationarmy.org/SNE/Norwich. The Salvation Army's division headquarters will match $2 for every $1 donated online to the Norwich branch, Uttley said.

c.bessette@theday.com