(Undated) -- Salvation Army bell ringers are hard at work in the midstate, but their familiar red kettles are not filling up as quickly as usual this year. Salvation Army leaders attribute the drop in donations to tough economic times across the state. Major William Bode, the Western Pennsylvania Division Commander, says his area is about $73,000 dollars short of its goal. At the same time, he says more people are turning to the organization for help. "We can tell you stories of people getting pink slips and having toys, for example, or gifts on layway, and they say they can't pay it. They have nowhere to turn, so they come to the Salvation Army," Bode says. Bode adds money dropped in the kettles will go directly to programs in the community where it was donated. He says the Salvation Army is also using Facebook and Twitter to ask for donations. The Red Kettle Campaign is in its 120th year.