BOSTON -- Bells will be ringing around the country Wednesday as the Salvation Army kicks off its Red Kettle campaign a little early.

The tough economy is prompting the venerable charity institution to try to get a head start on fundraising for the holiday season.

Just as many stores have already put up their Christmas displays, the Salvation Army will begin collecting donations in the city's Downtown Crossing shopping district.

Soaring food costs have local food pantries and soup kitchens hurting and the number of families looking for help and making requests for food has tripled.

"We're doing our ... preparing our Thanksgiving distribution and when we see that we're getting as many in a day as we would have done for three or four days, that kind of gives you a forecast of what the needs are going to be at Christmastime," the Salvation Army's Raphael Jackson said.

The Salvation Army's Thanksgiving and Christmas funds come almost exclusively from the kettle drives, which last year raised nearly $3 million.