Thanks to generous response to a special appeal last month, the Wilkes County Unit of the Salvation Army has announced that funding of requests for charitable aid will likely be met after all.

At a regular meeting of the Salvation Army (SA) board of directors Friday, October 31, Secretary Dot Harris reported that donations received last month totaled $620, well over the estimated $450 needed to help applicants through November. During the months of September and October, the same report showed that the local unit helped to clear 15 utility bills (most for electricity) and one case of past due house rent.

Unit Commander Rev. Albert W. Huyck Jr. expressed appreciation for the prompt and generous response. "As always, the people of Wilkes County have shown their willingness to help meet the needs of our people," Rev. Huyck said. "The Salvation Army and others are pleased to be agencies for bringing relief to people in need, but of course we cannot be effective without the contributions and support of the public. We thank you most sincerely and we pledge to make every effort to see that your donations are used to the best benefit possible."

Even as that immediate need has been successfully met, a different kind of appeal is underway this week, Harris added.

A great majority of the Salvation Army's local funding for the entire year comes from the revenue collected in the familiar kettles manned by volunteer bell ringers during the Christmas season. Advance planning requires recruitment of volunteers to ring the bells, and most of last Friday's meeting was devoted to that purpose.

Provision is made for volunteers to sign up at various churches, civic clubs, schools, organizations, and other locations. Bell ringers may also call Dot Harris at 706-678-2818 to arrange for a preferred time. Harris will coordinate the schedule in order to accommodate as many ringers as possible, with an estimate of about 130 volunteers needed.

"Last year we had our best response to date," Harris said, "but because of economic troubles, the need has grown faster than our expected resources will accommodate. One way to increase the amount of collections is to expand the schedule of the kettles. We will continue to use one kettle only, alternating between Bi-Lo and Ingles food stores. We hope possibly to add days and hours of collections, but it all depends on the number of volunteer ringers we can get."

This year's Christmas kettle collection begins Friday and Saturday, November 21 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A special time is from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, November 25, during the annual Downtown Christmas Shopping promotion. The kettle will move to various Downtown locations during the evening.

Anyone who is willing to ring bells and who is not otherwise contacted is asked to call Dot Harris at 706-678- 2818.