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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; This year, not having pocket change is no excuse to not give to the Salvation Army&#8217;s red kettle campaign; they take Apple and Google payment now.</p><p>It&#8217;s a first for the cashless option for the longstanding Christmas tradition. </p><p>Lt. Oziel Urbaez, corps officer for the Wilkes-Barre branch of the Salvation Army, said that the sign above the kettle bell will have a QR code the user can scan to open a link, and a chip they can simply tap their phone against if they have Apple or Google payment options activated on their phone. </p><p>According to reporting from the Associated Press, the charity&#8217;s leaders hope adding Apple and Google payment options will boost giving to the red kettle campaign, which makes up 10% of its annual fundraising. Those donations fund programs providing housing, food and other support to people in poverty.</p><p>&#8220;Those red kettle campaign funds help us throughout the entire year housing the homeless, feeding the hungry and helping families overcome poverty,&#8221; said Dale Bannon, the assistant national community relations director for Salvation Army USA.</p><p>&#8220;I think the future is bright, but we have to be flexible and provide multiple options for people to give.&#8221;</p><p>Americans&#8217; dependence on physical cash to make purchases has declined over time, especially among people who make more than $75,000 per year, according to the Pew Research Center. The same survey found about 46% of Americans &#8220;don&#8217;t really worry much&#8221; about leaving home without cash because of all their other payment options.</p><p>Back in Wilkes-Barre, Urbaez said the response locally to the electronic options has not been overwhelming, with most of the donations still coming in through more traditional cash, but he did acknowledge that the campaign is still only in its first week for the year.</p><p>Urbaez said the Wilkes-Barre Salvation Army is hoping to raise $100,000 in what he described as the most important fundraising event for the charity each year.</p><p>&#8220;Once they see the kettles, any spare money they have, we would really appreciate it,&#8221; he said.</p><p>According to him, the red kettle campaign raises funds that go on to support the charity&#8217;s food pantry, a 10-family shelter, and summer camps for local kids.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Tux the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins mascot helps the Salvation Army kick off their kettle drive outside of Schiel&#8217;s Family Market.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL112819SalvationArmy2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tux the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins mascot helps the Salvation Army kick off their kettle drive outside of Schiel&#8217;s Family Market.  </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL112819SalvationArmy1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The annual Salvation Army kettle drive officially kicked off Wednesday morning outside of Schiel&#8217;s Family Market on Horton Street in Wilkes-Barre, where a bell-ringer and kettle are seen here. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL112819SalvationArmy1.jpg</photo1><caption1>The annual Salvation Army kettle drive officially kicked off Wednesday morning outside of Schiel&#8217;s Family Market on Horton Street in Wilkes-Barre, where a bell-ringer and kettle are seen here. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL112819SalvationArmy3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dennis Palmer of Wilkes-Barre makes a donation in the Salvation Army kettle as firefighters Jim Zarembe, left, and Jeremy Cook ring the bell outside of Schiel&#8217;s Family Market. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL112819SalvationArmy3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Dennis Palmer of Wilkes-Barre makes a donation in the Salvation Army kettle as firefighters Jim Zarembe, left, and Jeremy Cook ring the bell outside of Schiel&#8217;s Family Market. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Salvation Army goes digital, accepting cashless options in red kettle campaign</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>The Associated Press contributed to this report</p></shirttailMeta></div>