VOLUNTEER'S CHRISTMAS SPIRIT RINGS TRUE AGAIN

Ed Rovner believes that for those who understand, no explanation is needed for why he is a kettle worker for the Salvation Army. He also believes that for those who do not understand, no explanation will ever suffice.

"If they hadn't put me on the right track and pointed me in the right direction, I wouldn't be standing here today," he said. "The Salvation Army reached out to me in my time of need, and in return, I try to help them."

This is Rovner's first year in Missouri, although he has happily worked as a kettle ringer for 13 of the past 15 years, missing only because he had a heart attack one year and heart surgery another.

Rovner said he moved his family to Missouri specifically so he could be a kettle worker under Capt. Robert Gauthier, who runs the Salvation Army at 701 Good Hope.

"I came because Capt. Gauthier said he needed some help reaching the $160,000 goal," Rovner said. "The man said he needed some good bell-ringers out here, and I said we'd come out here and do our best."

That was two months ago. Immediately afterwards, Rovner quit his job as a taxi driver in New York City and moved his wife, a niece, and his two teen-age sons to Cape Girardeau to help his friend of two years.

"I just wanted to help a friend who helped me," he said.

Rovner has his entire family involved in helping the Salvation Army meet its goal this year. He stands his post at one of the Wal-Mart entrances six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. His wife, Roberta, works right down the way at the opposite Wal-Mart entrance.

Half a mile away stands Rovner's niece, Katie, who is the full-time kettle ringer at Target. And Rovner's 16-year old son, Michael, works part-time as a kettle ringer at Schnucks.

"I tend to do pretty well where I stand," said Rovner. "People seem to respond to me on a kettle. I try to have interaction with them, by singing, and talking to them, and smiling."

Rovner said that while he and his family are paid, people should know that there are volunteers who work the kettles, and that he does it because he believes in what the Salvation Army stands for.

"It's important to me that people care that I care," Rovner said. "There has been a time when I stood facing a sleet storm for an entire shift, and I didn't do it for the money. Everything my family is making, we spent to come out here. I'm not looking to store up my riches here, I'm looking to earn them in heaven."

Rovner said the Salvation Army spends most of its money on disaster relief and special programming, not on salaries. The costs are kept to a minimum, he said, so the Salvation Army can provide the programs and services it gives free of charge all year long.

"This is a great community, and they should show their belief in God by putting it in that kettle," he said. "All of the things the Army does take money. This area is often hit be floods, tornadoes, and natural disasters, and who's there? The Salvation Army. We're always there to provide disaster relief."

Rovner said he and his family may decide to stay in Cape Girardeau after the Christmas season passes because he enjoys the community. As far employment, Rovner is unsure, but he does know he'll continue to work as a kettle ringer every year for as long as he is able.