The Ohio Valley air soon will be filled with the familiar holiday sound of ringing bells, as the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle season returns. Throughout the region, people will be standing beside those kettles, bells clanging, bringing attention to the Salvation Army’s mission of helping those who are in greatest need of it.

That need has only increased this year. At this week’s Red Kettle Kickoff Luncheon, Salvation Army Lt. John Lawrence said that, because of rising costs and a government shutdown that suspended SNAP fund distributions, his organization has served four times as many people than usual.

And Lawrence said that, even with Congress voting Wednesday to end the shutdown, it will take time before those in need will receive those back benefits.

Until then, it will be up to orga

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