Salvation Army ringers raise more than $5,200

At a meeting of the Wilkes County Unit of the Salvation Army on Friday, January 12, those attending heard a report of the success of the annual bell ringing and Christmas Kettle for the needy. The meeting was held at the Parish House of the Church of the Mediator with Albert W. Huyck Jr., Commander of the Wilkes County Unit, presiding.

Dot Harris, treasurer, reported that $5,276.39 was contributed in December 2006 through the Christmas Kettle. The money will be divided with 80 percent being used to help people with emergency needs in Wilkes County, and 20 percent going to the Salvation Army work worldwide.

This amount is the second highest amount of contributions ever received in the Christmas Kettle in Wilkes County. In 2005, contributions were a little more because of a few large gifts that year.

Mrs. Harris also reported that 104 people rang the Christmas bell for a total of 100 hours of bell ringing. This was the most bell ringing and the most bell ringers ever in Wilkes County.

Rev. Huyck expressed appreciation to those who rang the Christmas bell and the estimated hundreds of people who gave. He also thanked Mrs. Harris for coordinating the bell ringing, writing checks and keeping financial records. He thanked Smythe Newsome for being in charge of publicity.

Huyck noted that many young people of the Wilkes County 4-H program and the Social Studies classes of Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School helped with the bell ringing. He said that young people need attention when they do good things and not just when they misbehave.

The appreciation of the unit is expressed to the Wilkes County civic clubs and churches for their help; and to Bi-Lo and Ingles supermarkets for allowing the Christmas bell to be rung at the entrances to their stores.

"Life in Wilkes County will be better for many because of the generosity of those who gave through the Christmas Kettle," Huyck said, "and surely God is pleased with the gifts, givers, and the bell ringers."

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