TOWN OF NEWBURGH - A rich baritone soars above the clank of shopping carts and the soft whoosh of the automatic doors as shoppers walk into the Market 32 by Price Chopper in Newburgh.

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and so does Major Douglas Jones of the Salvation Army, manning the organization’s signature red kettle.

As of 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Jones’ kettle was just about filled, and it took a little effort to stuff a folded bill into the kettle’s aperture.

Jones’ son and daughter-in-law, Capt. Joshua and Michelle Jones, lead the Newburgh Corps of the Salvation Army’s Greater New York Division. Jones, who has served in the Salvation Army for 41 years, is from Asbury Park, NJ, but he comes to Newburgh for the organization’s annual kettle drive.

“My schedule allows me to come up and support them here,” Jones says during a brief intermission. His wife, Linda, is also in the Salvation Army.

Normally, Jones goes from church to church in the Greater New York region, visiting the Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island to preach. He has been to Kingston and Port Jervis and points between, carrying the gospel to the downtrodden in keeping with the Salvation Army’s mission.

For this season, he shares his voice.

“I actually started singing at the kettle with my son, when he was in high school,” Jones said.

That voice helps, said Lt. Cesar Villazana of the Newburgh Corps. “He brings in $200 to $300 extra,” he said.

As of Thursday, the Newburgh Corps’ kettle collections had reached about $33,000, still short of their drive goal of $55,000 with collections scheduled to go through Saturday.

Jones’ repertoire hewed to the sacred, with the likes of "Joy to the World" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."

“His voice is good, but it’s what he’s saying. That’s the most important thing,” said Jasmine Adams of Buffalo, who was in town visiting relatives.

“You have a beautiful voice,” she told Jones as she tucked a bill into the kettle.

“Very, very nice,” Carol Elliott of the Town of Newburgh told Jones as she did the same.

“It’s so nice to hear a real person singing,” she said. “I think he’s fantastic.”

Jones had been singing for the better part of six hours by that point, and he was planning to go until 6 p.m., then return Saturday to sing and collect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jones said he’s had no formal training. This is simply his voice.

“It’s by God’s grace. He allows me to sing, and I do it,” Jones said. “As long as he gives me voice, I’ll sing.”

hyakin@th-record.com