Red Kettles in Boise Will Have Cashless Options This Year

"I don't have any cash" won't be a valid reason to bypass the Salvation Army Red Kettles this year.  They're making it really easy to donate with smartphones.  

The Boise Salvation Army is gearing up for another powerful Christmas season, and there's a new way to help them. For the first time, we can use Apple Pay or Google Pay to donate by scanning the QR code and NFC tag on the kettles.  If you don't have Apple Pay or Google Pay you can use your camera and scan the QR code to make a quick donation.

Since more of us are going cashless, asking for cash and coins at storefronts can be a bit of a lost cause for a charity.  It's not that we don't want to donate -- we would just have to go find an ATM first.  The Salvation Army hopes the smartphone option prompts more of us to stop, scan, and donate and then get on with our errands.  And it's a good security move too.  Kettles don't get robbed too often, but cashless donations could reduce thefts even more.

In addition to the Red Kettles, we can still donate on the Salvation Army website, and that helps the Red Kettle Campaign, Angel Tree program, and other programs throughout the year.

The Boise Salvation Army helps people around the Treasure Valley through its Christmas Assistance program, Angel Tree, Client Choice food pantry, the Booth Marian Pritchett School Program, and more.  The school program is an accredited option for grades 9 through 12 and it's taught by Boise teachers.

The Salvation Army says 33 percent of its yearly donations roll in through Red Kettles, and those are only out in November and December.

They'll mix in with football in a couple of weeks.  Ellie Goulding will perform at halftime of the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day to launch the Red Kettle season nationwide.

Last year, the Red Kettle Campaign raised $142.7 million.