Although it’s not yet Halloween, you would almost expect to hear the Salvation Army bells ringing when you walk out of most retail stores these days, as they are Christmas ready.

And, those who attend Troy University’s Homecoming game Saturday will hear the Salvation Army’s bells ringing for the first time this year.

Kim May, Pike County Salvation Army director, said the Salvation Army bells will be ringing near the stadium entrance a couple of hours before game time.

“We appreciate this early opportunity to ring the bells for our 2015 Red Kettle Campaign,” May said. “Although Christmas is more than two months away, this is the time of year when our funds are getting low. Ringing the bell at Troy University’s Homecoming helps us to help people here at home who are in need.”

The Pike County Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign will officially kickoff on Friday, Nov. 20 at Food World with Santa Claus as a special bell ringer.

The Pike County Salvation Army will begin ringing the bell at Walmart on Black Friday and will also ring at Walgreen’s and Piggly Wiggly 23 and Brundidge Piggly Wiggly throughout the Christmas season with the last bells rung on Christmas Eve.

The Salvation Army Bell Ringers will also participate in the Peanut Butter Festival in Brundidge on Oct. 31.

“We always need volunteer bell ringers,” May said. “Ringing the bell for the Salvation Army is at the pleasure of the bell ringers. Our hope is to have enough bell ringers to ring daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in two-hour increments. We have some groups that will ring one whole day and some people who can ring only for an hour. We appreciate all of our bell ringers and all of them say they get a blessing from ringing the bell for others.”

May said the Pike County Salvation Army helps friends and neighbors here in Pike County and the Salvation Army also responds to emergency needs around the world.

In reponse to the South Carolina/East Coast floods, as of Wednesday, the Salvation Army has served 44,958 meals, 42,956 drinks, 35,729 snacks and provided 21 mobile feed units, 993 cleanup kits and 1,000 comfort kits and contributed 5,456 hours of employee and volunteer service and provided emotional and spiritual care to 1,185 individuals and these numbers continue to increase.

“When you ring the bell for the Salvation Army, you are a part of helping others in their time of need,” May said.

Those who would like to volunteer as bell ringers for the Pike County Salvation Army may call the Salvation Army Service Center at 334-808-1069 or visit the service center and thrift store at 509 South Brundidge Street in Troy. Other numbers to call are 672-4481 and 268-2553.