Not pictured: the credit card processor.

One of the most iconic images of the Christmas season is that of the Salvation Army bell-ringer.  They stand outside stores and on street corners, ringing a jingly bell and standing beside a big red kettle.  Nothing says Christmas quite like being able to drop a few quarters into that bucket, and when I don’t have any spare change, I feel like a real heel for just walking on by.  Now, I won’t have to.  The Salvation Army is moving into the 21st Century and will now be taking donations via credit card on a test basis.

Thanks to help from Sprint Nextel, the Salvation Army is beginning a trial program in four cities:  Dallas, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.  Sprint Nextel has donated ten Android-powered smartphones, and digital payment company Square has developed a special Salvation Army app that will allow passers-by to donate to the Salvation Army with just a swipe of their smartphone and a scribble of their signature.  Digital locations will be clearly marked with credit card symbols to show potential donors that yes, the red kettle will now take credit cards.

The Salvation Army believes that accepting digital donations will only help improve the company’s ability to accept money and help others, while cutting down on petty theft and replacing the need for crazy charity auctions.

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