All this month members of Tyrone’s High School National Honor Society have been ringing the Salvation Army Bell at the Save-A-Lot in Tyrone.  And they’ve been pretty successful getting people to dig into their pockets to fill the iconic red kettles.

Nationally many Salvation Army units report that donations are down, but locally the total collected by Tyrone students is almost twice what it was last year.  The students collected $1,050.00, an increase of more than $500 from 2014. 

“I loved doing something for those in need. It was a really great experience for me and I can’t wait to do it again next year,” said sophomore Morgan Bridges.

The Salvation Army helps families going through hard and difficult times all over.

The National Honor Society is a club that is considered more than a spotlight on academic excellence. This membership helps feature distinguishing character, leadership, and community service by all of its members.

“It was really nice to be able to take the time to do some good for those who are less fortunate. The Salvation Army bell ringing is a great experience that you get to share with your friends,” said sophomore NHS member Cheyenne Weaver.

NHS members reported that they are looking forward to helping others and ringing the bell again next year.

“I am extremely proud of the students who put in some long hours, sometimes not very convenient hours, to ring the Salvation Army bell to attract donations,” said NHS adviser Molly Stroup, “This is not just a significant fundraiser when you consider the history behind the Salvation Army, but it is also a noteworthy service that directly affects families here in Tyrone who are experiencing hard times.”

“The NHS volunteers also benefit during this activity, in that they contribute to solving problems for less fortunate folks, they connect to others in this community during their outreach, and they have found that they are able to transform their own way of thinking through a charitable initiative such as raising money for others,” said Stroup.