Next week is Thanksgiving, and that also means Salvation Army red kettles outside storefronts. The organization will launch its community fundraising drives after the holiday. This year the organization has fewer days for collecting and more people to help.

Thanksgiving this year falls in late November. This shortens the Salvation Army’s collection drive by several days. To offset the shortened time, a private company stepped-in with volunteer staff to monitor an additional 126 kettles across the valley.

Agency officials said they are still concerned fundraising efforts will fall short. They say there is an increased demand for food and toys this year, and shelters are full. The demand is attributed to more agencies offering less service. 

“We are expecting to serve about 500,000 meals in November and December, our home deliveries as well as the food boxes that we will give out to approximately 25,000 families across the Valley of the Sun," said Phoenix Salvation Army Commander Joe Posillico.

Posillico said the two recent natural disasters in the Midwest and in the Philippines could impact local support.