NATCHEZ &045; A 113-year-old tradition will make its way to the streets Friday once again.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Salvation Army will hold the official kickoff of the Red Kettle campaign outside Wal-Mart.

Bell-ringing volunteers will be posted outside the store encouraging shoppers to drop their change, large or small, into the famous red kettle.

For the kickoff, a food wagon will be nearby selling Cokes, hot dogs, nachos and other snack foods with proceeds also going to the Salvation Army.

The red kettle tradition dates back to 1891 when a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco set out to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area’s poor. The first red kettle was put at the Oakland ferry landing on San Francisco’s Market Street.

By 1895 the idea had spread throughout the west coast and in 1897 made the trip to Boston.

Today the money raised in the kettles goes to the Salvation Army and is distributed in the form of grocery checks given to families to help them prepare their own dinners at home.

Kettles are now used in fundraising all over the world.

Salvation Army director Jeanne Brunner said she was hopeful Friday’s kickoff would start a large season of giving.

&uot;We are trying to get people to come out for that period and acknowledge that the kettles will be out all over the community,&uot; Brunner said. &uot;Make a contribution and have a hot dog.&uot;

The red kettle season will run from Friday’s kickoff until Dec. 24.

Brunner said more volunteers to ring the bells and man the kettles are still needed. Anyone who wants to volunteer can call the Salvation Army.