The North Kitsap Bellringer Fund was set in motion this week as the Poulsbo Noon Lions and the Raab Foundation shifted into holiday gear. With Thanksgiving just a few days away, organizers have once again called upon their local newspaper to lend a helping hand. It is a task the North Kitsap Herald gladly accepts and looks forward to every year.

Bellringer has set its highest goal ever for 2007 — $35,000. There was some trepidation at making the decision to raise the level an additional $5,000 over last year’s mark, but given the success over the past two years,aa those involved with the fund made the call.

Now it’s up to the good people of North Kitsap to answer it.

The new goal should not be seen as a challenge, but rather an opportunity to serve your less fortunate neighbors. The fund, which assists hundreds of men, women and children throughout the North End annually, is there to help after all.

But it can’t do so without our support.

This is nothing new as the Bellringer has relied on local donations for more than a half century. During that span, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been doled out to thousands of residents in the area.

Even with the bar raised to $35,000 this year, we have no doubt the generosity of North Kitsap will once again shine.