It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in July on six Manhattan, N.Y., street corners.

The Salvation Army has sent out bell ringers and 150 signature red kettles in New York this week for a special summer fundraising effort.

The Christian charity says the extra collections are necessary because their needs are greater during this recession.

"We have seen this 400 percent increase in the amount of people showing up at our building," said Capt. William Francis of the Salvation Army Times Square Ministries.

The donation campaign started Monday and will run through Saturday.  Each of the 39 centers in the New York hope to raise $40,000.

Sources: Associated Press, New York Times