Jeff Curtis works a shift as a Salvation Army bell ringer outside HyVee Food & Drug Store, 4000 W. Sixth St.

No doubt Lawrence residents have spotted folks like Jeff Curtis, 52, standing outside stores in all weather conditions, ringing their bells and inviting people to place a fragment of their wealth in a Salvation Army kettle to help provide sustenance for the needy during the holiday season.

Curtis’ regular spot is at the entrance of Hy-Vee Food & Drug Store, 4000 W. Sixth St. He’s well-wrapped against the changing elements of Kansas winters, wears a warm, welcoming smile, rings his bell with gusto and shares a joke with anyone who takes time to stop.

“Why do cannibals like to take a break after a meal?” he asks me.

He takes delight in giving the answer.

“Because they’re fed up with people,” he says with a laugh.

Curtis says he has ongoing emotional and physical disabilities. He could easily feel sorry for himself and stay at home, but he’s determined to make his contribution to help others.

“Everyone can do something worthwhile,” he says simply.

He was born in Sugar Creek, Mo., living in many different states because of his missionary father’s varied pastoral assignments. In spite of the moves, Curtis loved school, especially math, science and spelling.

“I was 1970 spelling champion in junior high school in Helena, Montana,” he says.

He graduated from Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, in 1978, with a computer science degree. He was accepted for the officer training program at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

After experiencing some medical and emotional challenges, he took a short break from training before returning to the base in 1979.

“It was a very hard time for me,” Curtis says. “They eventually gave me a medical discharge because of emotional disability.”

He lived in a group home in southern Missouri and worked as a computer scientist but faced many challenges as he struggled to come to terms with his disabilities.

“I tried to keep going and do my best,” he explains, “but I found it hard to keep with one job.”

He eventually moved to Lawrence to be near his parents, who owned a small horse farm north of Lawrence. He has his own house and lives independently with help from Meals on Wheels and a cleaning service.

“I became involved with Project Acceptance at Bert Nash (Community Mental Health Center),” he says. “It really helped me. I spoke at community meetings about the project’s needs.”

He’s a certified baseball and softball umpire, an avid Jayhawk fan, and attends political science classes at Kansas University when his health permits.

“I love going to KU football, basketball, baseball and softball games,” he says.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002, but he’s determined to continue his ongoing sports participation. He’s also doing a correspondence course in jazz.

“I like to keep my mind active and learn new things,” he says. “I still face challenges because of my disabilities, but I try not to let my emotional and physical status hold me back.”