WOODFORD COUNTY, Ky. — It’s a tradition born at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a Woodford County woman is still carrying it on to this day
She lights her home green and rings a bell at 10 a.m. each day by a request made by Gov. Andy Beshear back in March 2020 when churches first closed.
What You Need To Know
- Peggy Carter Seal rings the bell each day at 10 a.m.
- Every day at 10 a.m., many Kentuckians ring their bells for COVID-19 victims
- In March 2020, Gov. Andy Beshear asked Kentuckians to ring the bells at churches
- The Woodford County woman then calls a community of people or writes notes to people overcoming COVID-19
"To me, I did it for others, but it probably helped me more than anyone," said Peggy Carter Seal, after she finished ringing the bell at the steps of her porch.
The ringing first started more than a year ago at Peggy's church in Troy.
"When I heard [Beshear] say it I immediately called the minister because we were not having church at that time and I said, 'I'll be coming to church on Sunday and ringing the bell at 10 o'clock, just wanted you to know when you heard.' Because he lives closes," Seal said.
But soon after the winter storm this year, she began ringing at home.
"And it doesn't mean quite as much ringing from home, but it's still that connection. And when I go places people say, 'Are you still ringing the bell, Peggy? I can't believe you're still ringing the bell,'" Seal said.
Seal, 77, thrives on meeting people, and ringing the bell at church or now at home gives her structure navigating through the isolation.
"It's not just people that have had COVID[-19], it is grandparents not being able to hug their grandchildren earlier. It's people like me that miss that human touch and interaction face to face with people. And I think it has taken us toll on everybody," Seal said.
Following her daily 10 a.m. appointment, she then either calls people checking on their well-being or writes notes.
"I keep the post office in business," Seal said.
It's to help heal the emotional chasm so deep in our society, she said.
"I guess I do it because I know there are people still out there that are suffering emotionally, really, maybe not physically but emotionally from the pandemic," Seal said. "Usually, when we have something terrible that happens in our country, it brings the people together."
She noticed that the pandemic has seemingly divided many people, and hopes when people see her green light or hear her bell ringing, people start to get along again.
"Disagree, but disagree in a way where we can still love each other and be a country united," Seal said.
She’s hoping the light on her porch dissolves the darkness.
The Woodford County woman said it’s rare, but she’s only missed a couple of times not ringing the bell at 10. In those cases, she rings the bell in the afternoon.