When the Brundidge Rotary Club was approached about is members being bell ringers for the Pike County Salvation Army Service Center in Troy, there was not a moment of hesitation.

“The Brundidge Rotary Club was willing to help as soon as they were asked,” said Kim May, Center director. “As far as we’ve been able to determine, last year was the first year that there has been a Red Kettle Campaign in Brundidge. The people there are very generous. Last year’s Red Kettle Campaign in Brundidge was a great success.”

May said the Brundidge Rotary Club makes “campaigning” in Brundidge extremely easy from her side of the desk.

“The Rotary Club handles it all,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about a thing. They get the bell ringers and do all of the scheduling. I really appreciate what they do and we are proud to have a Red Kettle in Brundidge. We thank Piggly Wiggly for letting us put a kettle there.”

Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage will be an ‘early riser’ bell ringer at the Piggly Wiggly today. And, he is looking forward to helping the Salvation Army which is a ‘good cause.’

“Last year was the Rotary Club’s first time manning a Red Kettle Campaign …” Ramage said. “But Brundidge has long been a supporter of the Salvation Army. We’ve had a lot of people, and my dad Jim Ramage was one of them, that believed in the work that the Salvation Army does.”

Ramage said many men and women who served during World War II benefited from the services on the Salvation Army.

“And, Walter Bass left a sizable portion of his estate to the Salvation Army,” Ramage said.

“He said that very little of the money that was donated to the Salvation Army went to administrative costs. So, the money that was given to the Salvation Army went to help those in need, not to pay a lot of salaries.”

Ramage said he was surprised last year at the spirit in which the people of Brundidge gave to the Salvation Army.

“Just about everybody gave something,” he said. “Nobody tried to avoid us. And, what was surprising was that some people would go to their cars and get money. Several times, people would actually leave and then come back with money to give. I don’t know if they went to the bank or back home but they brought back money.”

Personally, Ramage said being a bell ringer gives him the opportunity to do something for others.

“You know that you are doing something for the people of your community,” he said. “Often, the Salvation Army is the last stop for those in need and we need to do what we can to make sure that those needs are met.”

Ramage offered kudos to all of the help agencies in the county and praised them for the work they do.

“We have a lot of agencies that provide assistance to those in need,” he said. “They all do a good job and they all need our support as we work together for the people of Pike County.”

The Brundidge Rotarians will “ring the bell” from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at the Brundidge Piggly Wiggly until Christmas.