No cash? Nanaimo Salvation Army plans to take plastic at some kettles

With fewer people carrying cash, the Salvation Army is testing a plan to take electronic donations at some kettles on Vancouver Island this year.

Dawne Anderson of the Salvation Army's Nanaimo Chapter said the organization hopes to try out debit and credit card terminals as part of its annual Kettle Campaign.

"We are looking at avenues of possibly having at one or two of our locations, on a certain day, to have the trials to see how it works for us," Anderson said.

The volunteers will require extra training and organizers are looking for locations with internet access to run payment terminals, Anderson added.

No cash? You can still give

The shift to electronic donations is not coming to kettles across the province just yet.

But the organization is looking into options to help local campaigns make sure a lack of change doesn't keep people from giving.

Deborah Lowell, a spokesperson for the Salvation Army in B.C., said the debit donation plan may extend to other regions of the province next year.

"While certain ministry units are looking at doing that this year, we will be looking at facilitating that for additional units next year."

A study earlier this year by the market research firm Gfk found cash was used in only 25 percent of all transactions in Canada.

In Nanaimo, Anderson said the Salvation Army raises about $400,000 a year for local services. About half of those funds come from cash dropped in kettles.

The Salvation Army also runs a virtual kettle campaign on its website to provide an electronic donation option.