Salvation Army Red Kettles Go High Tech

INDIO – There may be less jingle in the Salvation Army’s red kettles this holiday season, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“I think people will be likely to contribute more that way,” says John Heffernan. Bell ringers at some locations in the Coachella Valley can now accept debit and credit cards.

“It does make it a little easier for people to be able to swipe their cards instead of digging around in their pocket for change,” says Stanford Jones.

“It’s really simple. You swipe the card, push a button for it to register, indicate the amount and then it automatically prints a receipt and then we print a second receipt for the donor,” says Lothar Vasholz with The Salvation Army.

The kettles that accept plastic don’t look any different. But, above the red kettles is a sign that says it accepts Visa or Mastercard. Next to it, a wireless card reader that resembles one at a gas station. The growth of so-called ‘plastic kettles’ comes as fewer shoppers carry cash.This year the plastic kettles are being tested in more than 100 cities across the nation with the hopes that people will be more generous.

“So far this year we’re blessed that our donations are running at about par of last year for which we’re very, very thankful,” says Vasholz.

Salvation Army says the red kettle campaign is their biggest, bringing in more than $130 millionlast year. If the new program is a success we may soon see the card readers built right into the old fashioned kettles we’ve grown accustom to seeing during the holiday season.