A large group of bell-ringers, including Spider-Man, at top, surround Salvation Army bell-ringer Jay Mercer during a flash mob in this file photo from Dec. 8, 2012. The flash mob, in front of the U.S. Bank building near 9th and Massachusetts streets, was organized by Lawrence company Callahan Creek, which also gave a check of ,000 to Mercer for the Salvation Army. This photograph is a stitched panorama image from four photographs.

Nearly three weeks into its yearly Red Kettle campaign — and with just eight days before the bell ringers hang up their red aprons until next year — The Salvation Army of Douglas County is about 50 percent of the way to its goal.

Lt. Marisa McCluer, corps officer with the Salvation Army, said the goal for this year is $100,000. All of the funding collected at Christmastime is used for the nonprofit’s programs and services throughout the whole year.

“So basically, all of our services that we do, day in and day out, is dependent on what we do at Christmastime,” McCluer said.

Also, of the 143 families that applied to for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Family Adoptions program, 15 are still in need of adoption.

Ava Wagner, 4, rings a bell for the Salvation Army outside of Weaver’s Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, in downtown Lawrence. Ava, her sister Abby, 11, and father Scott were collecting donations for the Salvation Army.

“We just want to urge this community that has been so giving in the past, and is still very giving, that if there’s anybody out there that hasn’t had the time or thought about it yet, we still have families that need assistance,” McCluer said.

McCluer said the nonprofit uses the Red Kettle funds for services including serving more than 15,000 meals per year to those in need, 500-plus grocery orders per month through its food pantry, holistic types of case management programs, housing programs, music programs for kids and more.

The Salvation Army has hosted its yearly Joy Shop, which McCluer said was successful. Each year, it helps about 100 families get clothes, gifts, winter weather gear and other items at no cost.

“It gives (the parents) a sense of empowerment to provide them an opportunity that we’re not just handing (items) to them, but we’re giving them the option to pick it out for their kids,” McCluer said.

McCluer said she knows firsthand the impact that some extra help around the holidays can have on kids.

“When I was a child, I never knew that my parents couldn’t afford Christmas or afford stuff for school,” she said. “I think I kind of had a sense of it, because I sensed their stress, but it was agencies like The Salvation Army or other nonprofits that kind of stepped in and stood in the gap for me and for my family to be able to operate as a normal family, even though we may (have been) in poverty.”

Poverty isn’t always the result of personal choices, either, McCluer said.

“Life is hard, and we understand that, and we want to be there for you, and we want to walk with you so that you’re not alone,” McCluer said she tells Salvation Army clients.

“That’s what the red kettle symbolizes; that’s what these programs are for,” McCluer said. “Not to just give them material things but to just give them a sense of family and a sense that God loves them, that we love them, that their community loves them.”

The bell ringers will be done for the year on the afternoon of Christmas Eve — next Thursday — but McCluer is still optimistic about meeting the $100,000 goal.

“Somehow we always make it, and I know that we will this year,” she said.

Donations to The Salvation Army are accepted by mail to Salvation Army of Douglas County, 946 New Hampshire St., or online at lawrence.salvationarmy.us.