Residents in the commonwealth and churches are being encouraged to ring bells in support of those on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

At 7 p.m. Sunday, all Pennsylvanians and churches are asked to ring bells as part of “Bells Across Pennsylvania Day,” an initiative of the Pennsylvania State Mayors’ Association.

The bells are encouraged to be rung for three minutes, one minute for each of the below purposes:

• Recognize and honor first responders, health care workers, and employees of grocery stores, pharmacies and other life-sustaining businesses who have maintained essential services while at risk of infection from COVID-19.

• Show solidarity with elected officials and residents of municipalities across the commonwealth, all of whom are fighting COVID-19 on the front lines together.

• Demonstrate a collective resolve that Pennsylvanians will prevail over COVID-19 and work tirelessly to ensure that their businesses and civic life will thrive once again.

The office of Lehighton Mayor Clark Ritter issued a proclamation in support of “Bells Across America Day.”

“With the stay-at-home order, and we’re really limited right now with what we can do, the Pennsylvania State Mayors’ Association thinks that the first responders deserve credit, and that’s what this is all about,” Ritter said. “We appreciate what they’re doing; they’re really on the front lines, and this is just to show them that we support them and we appreciate them.”

However, Ritter said it shouldn’t only be Sunday night when residents throughout the commonwealth express their gratitude toward those on the front lines.

“They can do things over the course of time, too,” he said. “They can be in contact with first responders and say, ‘I really appreciate it’; it’s a simple thing, and I’m sure the first responders would really appreciate it.”