The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign is now accepting smartphone donations.
After testing the move in select markets last year, the Salvation Army has announced plans to put “near field communication” or “NFC” stickers on all its red kettles nationwide.
Each sticker will have a microchip that allows users to make a donation via Apple Pay or Google Pay by tapping their phone on the tag, according to the company. Tapping the sticker will then prompt donors with a custom form so they can make a “gift of their choice.”
“The goal is to give supporters who are not carrying cash the ability to quickly donate to The Salvation Army as they’re walking by a red kettle,” Scott Justvig, executive director of development and communications for The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division, said in a statement. “We hope this new technology will make it easier than ever to join The Salvation Army’s Fight for Good.”
The Red Kettle campaign kicks off Friday at Jewel-Osco locations and select other locations. The company said 70 percent of the division’s donations are received during the Christmas season.
