Drops in the digital bucket. Coeur d'Alene Salvation Army Kroc Center embraces text donations to help others

You would like to stop and put money in The Salvation Army kettles, but you don’t have any cash. Or it’s freezing outside and you don’t feel like digging through your pockets or purse for spare change.

Those awkward moments in front of retail stores are a thing of Christmases past, thanks to The Salvation Army’s new digital donation option.

“It’s quick and easy,” said Major Ben Markham, who oversees the Coeur d’Alene Salvation Army Kroc Center. “It allows people to make a donation no matter where they are.”

If you have a smartphone, send a text to 91999 and write the message: Kettlecda and the dollar amount you wish to give, and then your name or message. Within seconds, you’ll get a text back that allows you to finalize the donation using your debit or credit card numbers on a Salvation Army web page.

“It’s totally safe and secure and the donation goes straight into the local Kettle fund,” said Markham.

After making a donation, people can go to https://app.mobilecause.com/public/campaigns_keywords/50670/graph?no_polling=false to see their contribution added to the campaign thermometer, along with the others who have given.

The Salvation Army has been collecting red kettle donations for families across the country for 125 years. This year’s local fundraising goal is $233,000. To date, the campaign has raised more than $144,000.

The money is distributed through a variety of Salvation Army programs, including winter clothing for children, food, gas, utilities and medical prescriptions.

“Every penny raised from the kettles and our digital kettle is used locally,” said Markham. “We turn around and put those dollars back into service, helping people in need.”

People from all backgrounds donate what they can to The Salvation Army.

“Anybody who wants to give back can do it,” he said. “It’s creating that spirit of Christmas by helping other people who are less fortunate than you.”

For more information call, (208) 763-0592 or visit http://www.kroccda.org/giving

By MARC STEWART

Staff Writer