In a normal year, the Salvation Army Kroc Center would have 34 days and 22 Red Kettle sites to collect funds to make the season brighter for those in need.

But this isn't a normal year, so the giving has already begun.

The virtual Red Kettle Kickoff took place at noon Tuesday, with the goal of reaching $11,000 by midnight.

That goal was blown away by 2 p.m., when the Virtual Kroc Kettle money meter showed more than $20,300 had poured in. By 5 p.m., $39,739 had been raised.

“When we knew that we wouldn’t be able to do a traditional kettle season, that we’d have reduced sites, reduced days, we had to anticipate, what is that lost revenue going to look like?” Christy Markham, Salvation Army Kroc Center director of development, said during the live Facebook event. "The average kettle makes about $500, and we have 22 sites typically that we ring bells at. So 500 times 22, that’s $11,000.

"If we reach our goal by midnight, then you are going to help us replace an entire day’s worth of missing kettles."

Beyond Tuesday, community members are welcome to contribute in a number of ways — sponsor a $500 kettle, gather bell-ringing teams, contribute online or host a mini kettle event.

The goal this year is $190,000, and 100% of donations will stay in Kootenai County. In-person Red Kettles will go out into the community Dec. 5.

"We are so grateful we still get to do the kettles in person this year,” Markham said.

Info: www.kroccda.org/kettles.html