Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Begins With New Ways To Donate

CHICAGO, IL — The friendly sounds of bells will fill the air as the iconic Salvation Army red kettles greet you at Jewel-Osco stores and other select locations beginning Friday, Nov. 8. The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division is kicking off the annual Christmas Campaign, which runs through Christmas Eve, according to a Salvation Army news release. In addition, the kettles will be fully deployed at Walmart, Hobby Lobby and other partners on Black Friday, Nov. 29, the release said.

Don't carry spare change? Not a problem. For the first time, donors will be able to make a cashless contribution at the kettles by tapping a smartphone to an NFC sticker and choosing an amount via Apple Pay or Google Pay, according to the release. Have an older cell phone model? All donors will be able to scan a QR code with their phone and contribute using their credit card.

According to the news release, the Christmas Campaign is critical to the more than 50 programs The Salvation Army offers, as nearly 70 percent of The Salvation Army’s donations are received during the Christmas season. The Salvation Army in Chicago is looking to raise $20 million this year, the release said.

“We are grateful for the generosity of our donors and volunteers during the Red Kettle Campaign,” said Commissioner Barry Swanson, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division, in the release. “Every dollar they donate provides help and hope to those most in need in their very own neighborhoods. And this year, every tap of the phone extends our ability to help.”

For the second year, “Chicago P.D.” actor LaRoyce Hawkins will serve as the celebrity Red Kettle
ambassador, and will spearhead bell ringing efforts across the Metropolitan Division with a video
appeal and social media posts, according to the Salvation Army. He’ll be donning a red apron himself to ring a bell this winter.

Related: The Salvation Army Introduces "Kettle Pay"

Volunteer bell ringers are needed, as there are more than 1,000 bell ringing locations spanning from Rockford to Chicago and Northwest Indiana, according to the release. Bell ringers raise an average of $30 per hour, equaling enough to supply one Christmas food box to a family of six or provide a night of shelter, the Salvation Army added in the release.

To sign up, go to registertoring.com.