The Salvation Army Lets You Swipe

Next time you see a Salvation Army donation bucket, make sure to have your PIN number. The Associated Press reports that some of those ubiquitous red kettles you see popping up around the holiday season will now be accepting cash — or charge.

It’s all in an effort by the Salvation Army to make donations easier for folks. If you don’t have change, you can simply swipe. The AP says that, "Anecdotal evidence indicates people who stop to make credit or debit donations make larger gifts, at least a few dollars."

The credit and debit kettles might also be safer for bell ringers, who will now have less cash to worry about. The charity makes clear, however, that this doesn’t mean their traditional cash kettles are going anywhere. The new donation buckets are just an additional option, and parents and kids who like hearing the satisfying clink of making a difference can still donate the old fashioned way.

We know we’ll be taking this opportunity to swipe our plastic, for once, with no regret.

Photo courtesy zieak via Flickr.