There's no longer a need to dig into your pocket for nickles, dimes, and quarters to drop into the Salvation Army's red kettles during their holiday fund-raising campaign.
Those kettles are now high-tech, with access to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and QR Codes for shoppers to make donations.
For the first time in nearly 130 years, giving at a red kettle does not require you to carry cash.This Christmas season, every red kettle in Minnesota and North Dakota will be equipped with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Learn how it works here: https://t.co/84xPvVQCKa pic.twitter.com/Q9NUlaG5gc
— Salvation Army North (@salarmynorth) November 13, 2019There's also Bump Technology.
"Somebody on the newer phones can just tap the sign, and up will pop a really simple three-click donate page that they can make a gift," said Brian Molohon, the Twin Cities Salvation Army executive director of development.
In 2018, about $2.8 million dollars was dropped into the red kettles, which went out Friday morning at more than 200 locations in the Twin Cites.
This "soft launch" of the red kettle drive comes a week before the kick-off event, which takes place at Mall of America.
#RockTheRedKettle with Earth Harp is in one week! Who are you taking with you to @mallofamerica? Find more information here: https://t.co/YDg8qXCNGN pic.twitter.com/sz6bEU3ORz
— Salvation Army North (@salarmynorth) November 15, 2019"We would have done the big launch today, but the big kick-off event that we're doing on Nov. 22, that was the date we were able to get," said Molohon. "It was simply when we could get venues and entertainment."
The red kettles can be found at some of the bigger stores around the Twin Cities, with about fifty more going out in the coming weeks through skyways and mall courtyards.
The new technology gives the campaign a modern twist, but the Army is still staffing them with traditional bell-ringers.
"That's important," Molohon said. "Every time people hear those bells it evokes some pretty powerful images. And we hope that those images are the reminders for folks that you are helping to change and transform lives."
The Salvation Army's holiday fundraising goal is $12 million, with donations through red kettles and other means accepted through the end of the year.
