Montana State University student Amanda Freeman of Fairfield, Mont., rings a bell for the Salvation Army outside Bozeman's Town and Country Foods. (MSU photo by Erin Raley.)

It was 50 degrees that December afternoon, but Amanda Freeman wore a winter jacket zipped to her chin and thick nylon mittens. A square of carpet insulated her shoes from the cold concrete. To her side she dangled a small bell whose timbre people immediately associate with the red kettle that hung before her.

Freeman, of Fairfield, Mont., collected holiday donations for the Salvation Army and was stationed in front of one of Bozeman's busiest stores--Town and Country Foods.

"Thank you," she called out brightly as shoppers dropped coins into the kettle. "Have a nice Christmas."

Between shoppers, most of whom returned Freeman's greetings with their own, the 19-year-old freshman at Montana State University talked about the art, or perhaps the zen, of bell ringing for spare change.

How did she get the job? Saw it advertised in the student newspaper.

What's required? A neat appearance, enthusiasm, the ability to make eye contact and a flexible schedule.

The pay? $7 an hour. This included a 30-minute lunch and two 15-minute breaks, which Freeman spent in her car warming her hands.

The benefits? The ability to greet a lot of nice people, including a little girl in a purple coat and pink pants who wanted a turn ringing the bell.

"One day Spiderman put money in here," Freeman said. "He was three or four maybe."

Freeman said she wanted the job because it would end in time for her to go home to northcentral Montana for Christmas where her dad, Leon, and mother, Sue, grow barley and pasture a few cows.

Her last day was Dec. 21. Her first was Dec. 3, and she rang the bell nearly every day in between. When a shift ended, Freeman turned in her apron and bell to Jim from the Salvation Army, who also took the locked red pot from its metal stand.

What was it like standing in one spot most of the day?

"I wouldn t call it boring," Freeman said. "It's kind of long sometimes," she added, especially when no one was coming into the store. "I'm ringing the bell all to myself."

The weather wasn't too bad, but she hated being cold and sometimes her back hurt.

"Otherwise, I think it's fun," she said.

One day a dog barked at her the entire time its owner was in the store. A man suggested Freeman needed a beard. Just one person--an elderly woman--told Freeman the bell was annoying. Some shoppers stopped to voice their disgust with Target, whose corporate office banned bell ringers from its stores nationwide.

Town and Country owner Jerry Perlinksi said he understands why some businesses don't want their customers tapped for donations when they come into a store.

"We do it as a community service," Perlinksi said.

His store also lets Boy Scouts bag groceries for donations, and as long as contributions are voluntary, as is the case with the bell ringers, then his store is supportive.

Is this a resume-building experience? Could be, Freeman said, since she's leaning toward majoring in sociology and becoming a social worker.

Will she ring the bell next holiday season?

"I think it's a one-time thing," Freeman said. And then she hedged. "I guess I'll have to see."

written by Annette Trinity-Stevens and posted for Dec. 22, 2004