MARYSVILLE – On this day when many eat too much, let us not forget those who eat very little.

The Salvation Army is here to help those folks.

As always this time of year, the Salvation Army has its red kettles in stores all over town.

“Different businesses call us up and ask if they can help,” Salvation Army Pastor Gene Rutherford said. “They’re getting to know we’re here, and they want to support what we do.”

At the Fred Meyer in Marysville last week, the kettle drive officially started with Gene and wife Michelle singing Christmas songs, along with 53-year Salvation Army member Lt. Col. Harold Brodin. Mayor Jon Nehring and Tulalip Tribes Chairman Mel Sheldon volunteered for the opening shift as bell ringers.

The Salvation Army effort is different from the Marysville Food Bank’s, although they are similar.

“We try to hit the families they miss,” Gene said, adding they hope to collect enough food and toys to help 100 families this year.

Gene said he’s trying to set up a system so people can’t double-dip, getting help from the food bank, too.

“There’s a lot of need in the community. We want to spread it out and help more people,” he said.

He said volunteers are trained to be as little “irritating as possible” when ringing the bells. “Some people say they’ll give twenty dollars if they stop ringing,” he said with a smile.

Some stores don’t want ringing. Brodin, who has been with the Salvation Army since 1963, remembers a few years ago a high-end store near Seattle didn’t want the bells. So volunteers used cutout cardboard pictures of bells instead that read “Ding” and “Dong.”

While there are some giving trees, the Salvation Army at most locations has big boxes where people can donate food or toys. There are tags shoppers can grab to buy gifts for a boy or girl. The tags tell the age and the toy the child would like. “We try to match it as closely as possible,” Gene said, adding there are 13 sites open now with five more starting after Black Friday.

People can also adopt the needs of an entire family.

“It’s more personal,” Gene said. “Some businesses like to do that. It’s a real blessing.”

They also have a list of what they put in the Christmas Food Boxes, including turkey or ham, dressing, instant mashed potatoes, cans of corn and green beans, mushroom soup, biscuits, dessert, cranberries and gravy.

Brodin became philosophical when talking about the joy people get in giving.

“Many people go through the motions,” he said. “We take care of ourselves to the fullest physically and emotionally. But in our country we tend to forget the spiritual part. So we’re only two-thirds whole.”

It therefore brings meaning to folks to help others who are falling through the cracks.

“Reaching out and helping others brings more meaning to life,” he said.

At the kickoff, the Rutherfords performed fun and religious songs, from “Jingle Bells” to “Away in the Manger.”

“Every time you say Christmas you get Christ in it,” Gene said.