The local Salvation Army Unit is begging for bell ringers this holiday season.

“In seasons past, I have been blessed to have the young adults from the schools ring the bell for us, but with new school restrictions, that is not going to happen this year, thus the plea for your help,” said local Salvation Army Officer Tracy Dennison.

The money collected is used throughout the year to help local residents. Some of the uses of the collected funds include: $2500.00 was used to help purchase hams that were in 1000+ food baskets; $750.00 was used to send low-income children 4H camp; $5000.00 was used during the ice storm of 2009 to assist families who needed food, gas, shelter and repair houses that were not covered by insurance. Over 25 families who experienced fires or homelessness were also served and $2000.00 in gas cards were distributed to those needing help getting to dialysis and chemo treatments. A child, who died at birth was provided with a burial plot.

“The list goes on and on. I am proud to say, no person, who has established a need has ever been turned away,” said Dennison. “As you can see, the money is desperately needed here in the county and the only way to get it is to have people ringing the bell during the holiday season. My goal is to collect $10,000.00 this season and with your help we can do that.”

It only takes 12 people to keep the bells ringing at both doors in front of Wal-Mart the entire day. Each person is asked to ring for a 2-hour period.

"All these programs are possible with the generous donations of the citizens of Grayson County, but without bell ringers these donations can not be collected," said Dennison. "We are asking everyone to challenge their church, family and other organization to pick a day between now and Christmas Eve to ring the bell in support of the Salvation Army,"

Anyone can ring the bell, from the young to old. A group of 16 can keep the bells ringing from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

If any group would like to sign up to ring the bell please call Tracy Dennison at (270) 259-0043 or if interested people are unable to ring the bell and would like to make a donation to the local unit you can do so by sending a check to: Salvation Army 125 E. Market Street, Leitchfield, Kentucky 42754.