Unemployment, depending on at which statistic one looks, is somewhere between 8.3 percent and 14 percent. One in five people in America is on federal assistance. Gas prices are stubbornly high. Americans overall are not in the best financial shape.

Yet, when the need went out this past Christmas season, Americans answered the call again. Numbers released last week show that the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Christmas Campaign raised $147.6 million nationally in a 3.4 percent increase over the Christmas past. Locally, the program pulled in more than $100,000, exceeding its Christmas goal.

People pour money into charitable campaigns such as the Red Kettle because they know the need is great and the money will be spent wisely. Money taken in through the Red Kettle goes to buy gifts and necessities for those less fortunate.

Red Kettle bell-ringers have become an annual tradition in this area. Volunteers can be seen for hours ringing bells outside grocery and department stores. Passers-by drop in quarters or dimes or a dollar or two at a time. Everyone who participated in this campaign should hold his or her head high. Warren County’s residents followed the national trend by giving more, even in lean times.

Christmas is about 10 months away. We only hope the economy on the national level has improved by then. But we know that whether a roaring economy or one moving at a snail’s pace, when a need shows itself, we will answer.

Congratulations to the Salvation Army, volunteers and all those who overfilled the red kettles this past Christmas season.