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MEDFORD — Local Salvation Army officials are stressing thousands in lost funding due to an ongoing shortage of volunteers for their annual Kettle Bell Ringers campaign. Maj. Jason Koenig said the region usually has a shortage of bell ringers — to a degree — but this year had proven a record worst. With 34 available storefronts, some eight to 10 bell ringers are showing up most days. The work can be hard for folks who can’t stand for long periods of time, Koenig said. Colder temperatures are tough, too. Two dozen “un rung” storefronts have resulted in $1,000 in lost donations per day for the organization’s annual budget and its array of programs, Koenig said. “It’s always usually a struggle. Here in Jackson County, we have the opportunity where we can have 34 doors occupied with bell ringers,” Koenig said. “Last year, the most we ever had was one day where we had 24 doors covered.” Keonig said the Salvation Army posts an average of 15 to 18 bell ringers a day in years past. Koenig said services that rely on the donation revenues include holiday assistance for families, gift for children and nursing home residents, and the agency’s myriad social service programs. Martha Contreras, a bell ringer for five holiday seasons, said the holiday job benefits the Salvation Army as well as the bell ringers who benefit from the income. An added bonus she said she never anticipated, is providing a boost of holiday spirit to total strangers. “I enjoy it a lot probably because I’m a people person,” she said. “What most people don’t know is that part of the job is just brightening someone’s day. A lot of times I’m there to just say good morning. People will walk by with their heads down, and it will make them perk up and smile and say good morning back.” Koenig said bell ringers are provided with drop off and pickup after reporting each day to Salvation Army headquarters at 304 Beatty St. Often times, Salvation Army clientele are recruited to ring the bells to improve their own situation. “For a bell ringer, by them being able to work, they’re able to also get a paycheck that will allow them for pay for some services we might not be able to help with,” said Koenig. “It will also give them a good reference if they do well with us.” Koenig said of nearly 60 bell ringers hired this year, 15 have panned out. “More than half of them just don’t even show up for the first day,” he said. “The challenge is, people see this as an easy job to get but it’s not easy to maintain. We’re asking people to stand outside a door for eight to 10 hours a day. We try to work with everyone and allow them to work within their ability. We just need to have bell ringers at all of our doors.” For info, or to sign up as a bell ringer, contact Koenig, 541.773.6965, ext. 101. Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected] .