BRADENTON - The Salvation Army kettle drive has begun to ring an alarm with its donation Christmas bell.  So far this holiday season, the donations are well below what they brought in last year.

The Salvation Army says they're $6,000 behind collection efforts from the same time last year.  More than a thousand families need help this year, and bell ringers want to remind you that every little bit helps.

Kevin Conway has been ringing a bell for the Salvation Army for the last four Christmas seasons.  He says donations at the KMart on Manatee Avenue are steady, but he's been getting a lot of something else: he says he gets just as many apologies for not having the extra money to give.  "People say that a lot.  They don't have to feel bad."

He says he'll greet them with a Merry Christmas anyway.  "Or if they give a quarter they say that's not much.  No, no, no...that's a lot."

But the Salvation Army's lighter kettles concerns the charity.  "The need has not diminished at all.  We still have over 1,000 families to serve and 2,500 children to provide gifts for," says Major Bob Parker.

The Salvation Army is also relying heavily on volunteers like Ray Wilson and his fellow Suncoast mummers.  "One time I was down here alone ringing and I didn't have very much.  But together here normally we'll fill the pot."  He says their playing gets people to take a moment and get into the Christmas spirit.  "I think when they hear the music, and it's happy music, they believe in Christmas and I think they will take care of their fellow man."

The Salvation Army has not cut back on bell ringers or kettle locations.  So they hope you'll see them there to give what you can.  "If the trend doesn't turn around with the kettles really by the end of next week, we really need to get the word out to just ask folks to make a special effort," says Major Parker.

The Salvation Army hopes to raise $250,000 in kettle donations for this Christmas.