November 16, 2008
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FUNDRAISING HAS GONE HI-TECH!
Salvation Army bell-ringers now take plastic(The Gazette, Mark Reis)People who wish to donate to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign but find themselves short at cash can now donate with a debit or credit card since some of the bell ringers will have portable credit machines available.No change in your pocket? That’s no reason to walk past a Salvation Army red kettle this year without making a donation to help feed, clothe and shelter the needy.
El Paso County is the first Salvation Army chapter in the United States to test the use of debit and credit cards at five of the 83 locations where bell ringers are encouraging shoppers to open their wallets.
“It’s a response to the way in which the public spends money – people are using cash less and plastic more,” said Mike Smith, director of kettle development for the local Salvation Army chapter”Nobody carries cash anymore; we’re a credit card society,” she said Wednesday. “I’ve had it happen to me before, where I wanted to donate but didn’t have any cash.”
U.S. Bank is sponsoring the machines to ensure secure transactions, Smith said.
The organization still needs more than a thousand volunteers to ring bells at kettle locations, Smith said. The organization has recruited 1,600 bell ringers, but wants to reach 3,000.
“It costs us $10 per hour per person if we have to hire bell ringers through temp staffing,” he said. “When we get volunteers, it’s an automatic $10-an-hour donation they’re making.”
Comments (3)
Crazy… it makes sense though how often, now a days, do you have cash in your pocket…
WOW….that is amazing. I hope it doesnt put people off instead. The times they are a changin’
Where is your post on your magazine feature? Ring your bell!