Salvation Army To Accept Credit Cards at Red Kettles

[jeffrey]

This is no joke - they are testing out credit card donations for those holiday shoppers who don't have any spare change to throw into the Salvation Army red kettles.

The test is starting this season with five bell-ringers in El Paso County, Colorado. If the tests prove profitable, look for the concept to be a normal mainstay in future years across the nation.

So why exactly does the Salvation Army need to accept credit cards? "Salvation Army officials say the kettle tradition needs to be tweaked as consumers increasingly carry only plastic."

source

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I'll give change if I have it, but I won't stop to use a card every time I pass by them. If I stop once to do it, I'd just give a few bucks and then call myself finished with that charity for the year. They might get more from me hitting me up from November to January for my change, as they do now.

[sweeps]

I wonder how many people are going to insert their credit card into the bucket.

[ThriftoRama]

It makes sense. I sometimes don't carry cash.

[disneysteve]

I refuse to give them money because I can't stand that damn bell ringing. I think they'd make a lot more money if they got rid of those things.

I think the CC concept is interesting. It is true that so many people today don't carry cash. Makes sense that charities need to keep up with the times. We make most of our charitable donations with our credit card now.

[Ima saver]

I always give my change, but I would never charge.

[simpleyme]

my cousin with a checkered past (think identity theft) has worked for salvation army as a bell ringer it pays minimum wage
I would never give a bell ringer access to my card in any way,

I always let my kids drop coins in the bucket

[cptacek]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

my cousin with a checkered past (think identity theft) has worked for salvation army as a bell ringer it pays minimum wage
I would never give a bell ringer access to my card in any way,

I always let my kids drop coins in the bucket

I pretty much thought the same thing....pretty dangerous IMO.

[KatieNK]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

my cousin with a checkered past (think identity theft) has worked for salvation army as a bell ringer it pays minimum wage

They pay people?? Wow! I volunteered for them one year, and it was hard to even get a slot they had so many people that wanted to do it!

BTW, I like the bells. It is so Christmasy

[simpleyme]

my cousin was in Oregon and she got paid to man the kettle I ran into her while she was doing it and i was shocked as she is not the type to do anything for free she said it was easy work and paid minimum wage.

it is always surprising what pays, my Husbands step niece is paid to protest
I had a friend who was paid to gather signatures for a petition

I think all those things should be volunteers who believe in the cause but it is probably easier to get people if you pay