SELINSGROVE — Kettle drive volunteers like Ricky Burgess will be ubiquitous this holiday season, and he has a simple tip for people who pass him by.

“Say hello,” the 51-year-old Sunbury man said.

For the past three years, Burgess has helped raise money for the unfortunate by serving as a volunteer bell ringer at Salvation Army kettle drives during the holiday season.

He enjoys the 10-hour days he puts in six days a week at the kettles outside department stores in Shamokin Dam and Monroe Township because it gives him a chance to catch up with friends and meet new people.

“I really don’t have any bad experiences, other than people who pretend they don’t see me,” Burgess said.

Considering the poor state of the economy, he understands that not all shoppers will donate money every time they pass a kettle.

“If people want to give, that’s great. If not, that’s OK, too. I thank them anyway,” he said.

Burgess went to the Salvation Army in Sunbury three years ago to volunteer his time after he was laid off from his fast-food restaurant job. He’s since landed, and lost, other jobs, but said he’ll always return to the kettle during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

The Salvation Army in Sunbury kicked off the seasonal kettle drive Tuesday, Maj. Sharon Cupp said.

Seven kettles will be staffed by volunteers, and the goal is to raise $53,000. Last year’s fund-raising effort brought in $52,000, Cupp said.