By Rebecca Billman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

It's not a bad gig, being a Salvation Army bell ringer. You get a little cold and it might be hard on the feet to stand for three hours, but they don't mind if you bring along a folding chair.

The reward is the thrill of watching people give and knowing how much good the money will do, according to Ron Line, 60, of Anderson Township. He was just inside the exit door Monday morning at the Forest Hills Kroger ringing the familiar bell and greeting every customer with a hearty "Good morning."

"It's been good," Mr. Line said, without missing a ring. "Today has been brisk. Everybody has been very pleasant."

But just in case, he donned his red Ohio State jacket , which "everybody likes."

Well, everybody except the guy in the red Indiana University jacket. But even he gave a donation.

Two days before Christmas is a busy day for Kroger and Mr. Line estimated about half the customers drop something into the famous red kettle, which belies the fact that contributions are down across the board by about 6 percent.

The paradox is that because the "economy's down, there's more need," noted Gavin Gray, Salvation Army board member.

But it's not just the economy. Donations are below last year's levels in part because the kettle campaign season is shorter. Most Salvation Army divisions begin their campaigns, marked by the bell ringers, the day after Thanksgiving and end it on Christmas Eve. Because Thanksgiving came late this year, the campaign lost six valuable days. Today is the last day to give.

Mr. Line has donated three hours every week of the campaign, ringing the bell at Forest Hills Kroger.

Monday morning, many of the givers were children and the elderly.

"It's gratifying to see little kids," said Mr. Line. "Instead of going over there (to the bubble-gum machines) they bring their money over here."

One older woman approached and said, "They were good to my little brother and me when we were tots," before dropping a $10 bill into the kettle.

Perhaps best known for disaster relief, the Salvation Army does a lot more - especially in underprivileged areas. It sponsors children's and adult day care and a basketball team for Over-the-Rhine teens.

"The Army serves the bottom 5 percent of civilization," Mr. Gray said. "Last week, we bought $70,000-$80,000 worth of toys for the city." The Salvation Army also hands out baskets of food and provides gifts for people who are hospitalized.

People drop everything from pennies to checks for $1,000 into the kettles. At the Forest Hills Kroger, the campaign took in $15,000 last year. To date the collection is about $12,000.

Mr. Line plans to do it again next year.

E-mail rbillman@enquirer.com