"We have a lot less people out there ringing the bells for us," says Major Paul Moore with the Mahoning County Salvation Army.

And that means a lot less money in those red kettles.

So far this year, donations are down about $50,000 from this time last year.

Trumbull County's Salvation Army is struggling too, with donations down about $15,000 from this time last year.

The big culprit? COVID.

"A lot of the older folks that volunteered and did kettles for us aren't doing it this year; they're just afraid to go out and be around the people," Moore says.

COVID has also meant cutbacks for Mahoning County's Salvation Army - both programs and staff.

Major Moore says it'll depend on the community whether there will have to be more cuts.

"There are other agencies this year because of COVID that aren't doing anything," Moore said.

But volunteers say it's still early in the season, and there's plenty of time and ways for the community to step up.

"We do have the Apple and Google Pay, there's our text to give, you can mail donations to our Glenwood office," says Moore. "We can't help everyone, but we're helping everyone we can... but we need the help of the community as well."

To donate through Apple or Google Pay, the scan codes are on the kettles at the locations they're set up. You can text your donation to 41444, or you can mail your donation to:

TRUMBULL COUNTY:
270 Franklin St. SE
Warren, OH 44483

MAHONING COUNTY:
1501 Glenwood Ave.
Youngstown, OH 44511