With a fund-raising target of more than $10 million this year, the Salvation Army is hoping to mobilise more than 100,000 people throughout Australia to assist in the appeal on the weekend of May 25-26.

The Shellharbour area in particular is on the lookout for volunteers, as last year's appeal only reached a small section of the region.

"We had 20 volunteers for the appeal last year, which only really let us cover 10 per cent of our area," Salvation Army Shellharbour captain Shirley Spooner said.

"We still managed to raise $12,000, but we'd definitely like to get a few more people to take part."

Many of those who do volunteer have done it for a number of years and Captain Spooner can understand why people may be reluctant to take part.

"Going up to somebody's door and asking them to donate money is a hard thing to do, but most of the time when people realise you're from the Salvos they're happy to help," she said.

The money raised during the appeal is used by The Salvation Army to assist more than a million people in making ends meet.

"For some people on low incomes or government benefits, once they pay the rent they can have as little as $50 a week to live on," Salvos spokesman Major Bruce Harmer said.

To volunteer for the Red Shield Doorknock Appeal, please phone 13 72 58 or visit the salvos.org.au website.