The Salvation Army's bellwethers of cold cash

Bitter winds on Friday and the cold air that seeped into unbuttoned jackets served as a cold wake-up call that seasons are changing.

For Salvation Army bell ringers, a cold reception is just part of the job.

Marty Fluegge of Cape Girardeau rang the bell at Jackson's Wal-Mart on Friday, and the tormenting wind repeatedly whisked the hood off his head.

He was having trouble keeping warm in this, his fourth year of ringing his bell and greeting people as they drop coins and bills into the red bucket in front of the store.

"It won't stay," he said of his hood. "I can't hardly even hear the people anymore."

Paul Shamblin and Pat Angle both rang bells in front of the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart, one at each entrance. They both wore knitted hats and heavy coats and said the cold air didn't bother them much.

Angle said she works for the Salvation Army because it gives her something to do. Angle's husband died two years ago, and he had said he always wanted to ring bells for the Salvation Army.

"I'm doing this for him," she said.

Shamblin, Angle and Fluegge all get paid about $5.50 per hour to ring bells for the Salvation Army. Volunteers also supplement the bell-ringing program. Most of the volunteers work in the evenings.

Michael Thomas, a major for the Salvation Army, said the goal is to raise $225,000 locally. About half of that is expected to come through the bell-ringing campaign.

He said there are 14 bell-ringing locations in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area, and there are about 10 bell ringers on the payroll.

Thomas said about a little more than a third of the Salvation Army's budget comes from the Christmas campaign. Much of the money will go to an estimated 1,100 families in Southeast Missouri for food and gifts for Christmas.