Local Salvation Army kettle campaign manager Barbara Eddy wanted her new seasonal workers to understand that the bell ringing never stops.

Never. Never. Never ever, except when the ringer hands the bell to a kid to use.

“I expect you to work that bell,” she said. “You never stop ringing the bell … ever.”

Ringing it isn’t a holiday season social service campaign. It’s about raising money for the Salvation Army, she said during the Friday morning orientation meeting before the bell ringers set out to mark the holiday giving across Odessa.

Eddy, all 5 feet or so tall, is full of fire. She had emergency gall bladder surgery last Saturday, but she was out leading the 2007 campaign six days later, wearing her Santa Claus hat as she dropped off each person at a retail store entrance for the campaign kickoff.

She’s back because she considers the kettle campaign a personal blessing, but not many other workers came back with her.

The Army’s kettle campaign is short-staffed. Even paying $8 an hour, $2 more than last season, hasn’t brought out enough workers.

Seven men and four women showed up for the orientation Friday.

Eddy went over the ground rules. She wanted the new employees to wear dark clothes — they don’t show dirt as well — always say thank you to someone who drops any money into the kettle — because the Salvation Army is very thankful for any donation — and make eye contact with a smile.

And if the ringers hold their bell the right way, they won’t get a tired wrist, Eddy said. Place it between the index and middle finger and gently hold it and softly move the arm, she said.

“And never turn your back to the kettle,” she said.

Eddy dropped off Mitch Reynolds at the eastside Wal-Mart’s south entrance. He came with a brown bag filled with peanut butter and jelly for lunch. He’s been living at the Salvation Army’s lodge for about three weeks and hopes his hourly wage will get him enough for an apartment, maybe a cell phone and a job.

“Project a little personality, eye contact, that’s all you got to do I guess, and of course ring that bell,” he said.

Mark Friedel’s hanging red kettle was set up outside the Sam’s Club exit two parking lots north of Reynolds’ spot. Sam’s Club, that’s the hot spot, Friedel, in his second year bell ringing here, said. Last year the location brought more than $800 one day.

“I try to talk about the holidays,” Friedel said. “And ask how their shopping was.”

Eddy dropped off Amanda Sundwall, 27, at the Walgreens at 42nd Street and Grandview Avenue. Sundwall’s hair was pulled back in a ponytail, a good thing because Eddy said she had a windy spot.

In a couple weeks, the bell ringers will fight off Texas winds and colder temperatures to pull in another quarter or two from shoppers passing by. The money will help pay for shelter, food and clothing for Odessa’s destitute and hungry, Eddy said.

Jimmy Mercer was back for his second season of cold nights and eight hours on his feet, periodically talking with donators who donate $1 or a couple quarters or even a $20 bill or more. He was at his traditional spot, the west side Wal-Mart along with Bonnie Easter.

Someone slipped a $100 bill into Mercer’s bucket last year, he said.

Mercer was working as the Salvation Army lodge manager, Salvation Army Sgt. Jay Ward said, but he temporarily resigned for the holiday season because he likes the kettle campaign so much. Mercer is honest and forthcoming, admitting he’s continuing to rebound from a prison stint for a drug charge.

Part of the return is his Salvation Army work.

“We’re doing a lot of good and meeting a lot of interesting people,” Mercer said.

WANT TO HELP?

>> Salvation Army needs workers and volunteers.

>> Want to help raise money for the nonprofit? Call 332-0738.