Salvation Army kettles can now accept credit cards

[katy_kay]

Salvation Army kettles can now accept credit cards

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-11-26-salvation-army-credit-cards_N.htm 

By Jessica Leving, USA TODAY

Not having cash won't be an excuse to pass by the Salvation Army red kettles this holiday season. Bell ringers in about 200 cities now accept credit cards.

The change, which was tested in some local branches last year, is being rolled out in many more cities this year, including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Reno, Salt Lake City, and Memphis, says Jennifer Byrd, national public relations director for the Salvation Army. Salvation Army national spokesman Mark Hazlin said, "It's been done spottily in different places in the past, but this year is the biggest rollout."

Although local start dates vary, the Salvation Army's 2009 Red Kettle Christmas campaign began nationally on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Eve. The funds support programs such as toys for needy children and food for the homeless.

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Last year, the campaign raised a record $130 million, surpassing the previous year's record of $118 million, Hazlin said.

In Raleigh, N.C., where bell-ringers began accepting credit cards last week, area Salvation Army spokeswoman Paige Bagwell said credit card donors are giving much more than cash donors. "Typically, people just empty their pockets when they give cash, but when they swipe cards, they are rounding up to $10, to $15, to $20," she said.

Andrea Murphy of Garner, N.C., noticed right away the sign above the red kettle was different, offering a choice of Visa, MasterCard or American Express. "I think it's cool," but she prefers to give cash, she said.

The Salvation Army of Dallas-Fort Worth will accept credit cards at 82 locations this season, said Patrick Patey, public affairs manager.

"More and more people tell us they don't have cash. If we don't do something about that, one of these days our red kettles will be left in the dust," Patey said.

Barbara Stark of American Debt Counseling cautions people against making spur-of-the-moment donations with a credit card.

"Credit isn't real," Stark said. "When you pay with cash, you feel the cash. Credit cards are like play money."

Contributing: Jordan Schrader of the Asheville Citizen-Times in North Carolina

[tericared]

 

Barbara Stark of American Debt Counseling cautions people against making spur-of-the-moment donations with a credit card.

"Credit isn't real," Stark said. "When you pay with cash, you feel the cash. Credit cards are like play money."

[LancesMom]

I agree, my son, who works at Burger King as he goes to school to be an MA, gave away almost all of his paycheck in the spur of the moment.

I think adding a Credit Card machine just makes it harder for people to say no.

While I agree it's good to give. But some people are hurting so bad that even a few coins in there pocket could mean no milk for there kids. This economy is so bad.

And I hate to give the Credit Card Company any more money than I have too. They are sneaky for profit corporations that don't care about us.

[AMom29]

Quoting LancesMom:

I agree, my son, who works at Burger King as he goes to school to be an MA, gave away almost all of his paycheck in the spur of the moment.

I think adding a Credit Card machine just makes it harder for people to say no.

While I agree it's good to give. But some people are hurting so bad that even a few coins in there pocket could mean no milk for there kids. This economy is so bad.

And I hate to give the Credit Card Company any more money than I have too. They are sneaky for profit corporations that don't care about us.

I think that's it in a nutshell.  They are taking away people's obstacles to giving -- not so much as a convenience, but more like an impulse buy.  Those types of impulse purchases already run rampant this time of year.