WENATCHEE — The Salvation Army will begin its annual Red Kettle fundraising campaign this morning in a big way.

The Christian-based group will use a borrowed boom truck from Leavenworth Electric to hang a giant kettle outside the Wenatchee Safeway store from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The hanging display is being done to raise awareness for the campaign, which brings in about 15 percent of the local Salvation Army’s annual revenue, said Capt. Frank Desplancke.

Kettle ringers will be posted outside 15 area stores this holiday season, he said. The Red Kettle campaign will continue through Christmas Eve, with the bells silent on Sundays and Thanksgiving Day.

The ringers are a combination of paid and volunteer staff. The Salvation Army is accepting volunteers to fill bell-ringing shifts. Interested individuals, church groups or service clubs can call 662-8864.

Desplancke and his wife Beth have served as local Salvation Army captains since the end of June.

— Marco Martinez, World features editor