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Salvation Army now accepts credit cards during Kettle Drive

‘We look at it as a matter of convenience’

Robert C. Reed

Jerry Saine, of Hickory, uses his debit card to make a donation to the Salvation Army at Wal-Mart on U.S. 70 on Black Friday as Maj. Kent Davis holds the electronic card device.

DETAILS

• Wireless credit and debit card options are at more than 300 Red Kettle locations nationwide, with the possibility of adding more.

• As of Friday, 14 North Carolina cities were participating in the wireless program.

• Donors receive printed receipts for their tax-deductible gifts.

• No personal information is stored on the unit.

• More than 25,000 volunteers throughout the nation will ring bells for the Salvation Army this season.

• The Salvation Army is the nation’s largest direct provider of social services.

• Last year’s Red Kettle campaign raised $130 million, a record.

• Christmas Eve is the last day of the campaign.

By Larry Clark | Hickory Daily Record

Published: November 28, 2009

HICKORY - The crisp autumn air was filled with music by the Salvation Army band as hordes of shoppers descended on Wal-Mart.

Nearby, Beth Whicker rang the familiar bell at the Hickory Salvation Army's red kettle at the supercenter's front doors.

She greeted every donor who put change or folding money in the red kettle with a hearty "Thank you, Merry Christmas!"

Nobody seemed to mind Friday morning's chilly breeze.

"You're welcome!"

"Thank you!"

"Merry Christmas!" shoppers replied as they happily entered the store or pushed buggies filled with treasures toward the packed parking lot.

Maj. Kent Davis was on the other side of the red kettle, showing people how to use the Salvation Army's newest device for contributions: A hand-held, electronic credit card computer.

"We're experimenting with the unit this year," Davis said. "It was tried in a few locations last year, but this is a first for Hickory."

The credit card machine will be at Wal-Mart in Hickory and Conover, Sam's Club and JCPenney at Valley Hills Mall.

It's an option for shoppers who want to give to the annual Red Kettle campaign.

"I have set a goal for $115,000 for all the Hickory sites," Davis said. "We collected about $108,000 last year.

"I'm here to show people how it works."

Volunteer bell-ringers will be taught to use the device. Davis said it's simple.

"We're excited about the unit and this season," Davis said. "This is a good day."

For sure. Traffic was steady at the kettle, and a few people stopped to swipe their cards on the new machine. It accepts most major credit and debit cards.

All proceeds from the Red Kettle drive go to Salvation Army programs: The many shelters for men, women and their families; toys for children, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and various social service programs.

It's the oldest charitable fundraising effort of its kind in the United States. It started in San Francisco in 1891.

The Salvation Army in Hickory serves seven counties. Davis said he hopes this season produces $200,000 from all kettles.

Last year's test sites in Dallas, Los Angeles and Colorado Springs showed that the average donation increased from $2 to $15 when shoppers used their credit cards.

"We'll see how it works," Davis said. "We look at it as a matter of convenience. Many people simply don't carry cash anymore, but they want to donate.

"Merry Christmas," Davis said to a shopper who tried the device.

The unit does not store any information. Zero. Everything is transmitted so personal information cannot be accessed on the handheld unit. It's a one-way, wireless information pipeline for security's sake.

Meanwhile, people still gave the old-fashioned way.

Coins jingled in Whicker's kettle, and some shoppers carefully folded paper bills to fit through the slot.

More than a few people slowed or stopped to hear the band's steady stream of holiday music.

Davis identified the musicians.

There was Austin Davis (guess whose son he is?), Joey Heath and Phil Heath (think they're related?) drummer Mary Alice Rutledge, whose bare arms defied the chill, and John ...

Davis needed help with John's last name. His wife, Maj. Melody Davis, came to the rescue.
"Vandeklashorst," she spelled carefully.

He's originally from The Netherlands.

Whicker kept up a continuous cadence with her low-tech bell. It didn't clash with the music.

"This is a good day," she said. "Everyone is so friendly. Everyone is smiling."

She's on the Hickory Salvation Army Board. Whicker has been a bell ringer for three or four years.
"Merry Christmas! Thank you!" she repeats, often.

And the band played on with, what else?

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas ..."