Fewer people than ever are carrying cash, and as America moves toward becoming a cashless society, The Salvation Army is making it easier than ever to support its Red Kettle Campaign online. The Red Kettle Campaign is the organization’s primary fundraiser and largely determines the programs and services the organization can provide for the holidays and throughout the year.

“Our challenge is that requests for assistance have increased, but we are experiencing a decline in Red Kettle donations due to reduced retail foot traffic and most people carrying less cash,” said Lt. Roy Fisher, commanding officer of The Salvation Army of Meridian.

The Salvation Army has seen increasing numbers of working families fall into housing insecurity and financial hardship due to historical price increases for food, automobiles, rent and fuel.

To meet the growing need, The Salvation Army is rolling out new ways to give in addition to the iconic red kettles outside retail storefronts. Community members can now donate to The Salvation Army’s Virtual Red Kettle directly from their phones or computers.

“We’re asking people to visit meridiankettle.org to donate or to start your own online fundraiser,” Fisher said.

The Salvation Army’s peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, the #RedKettleChallenge, aims to inspire the community to gather with friends and family with the goal of raising money by either starting their own virtual fundraiser or registering to ring the bell for a day.

“We’re excited about this new opportunity for our supporters to set up their virtual Salvation Army red kettle, either as an individual or as part of a team,” Fisher said. “Spread the word on social media and challenge your friends, family members or coworkers to donate and help reach your fundraising goal. Please go to meridianemptystocking.org to set up your kettle.”

In addition to the virtual red kettles, residents can also support The Salvation Army of Meridian through a variety of digital payment options.

“We’ve also added Apple Pay, PayPal, and Venmo,” said Fisher. “As fewer people carry cash, this is a simple and convenient way to give, especially for our younger donors.”

The Salvation Army in Meridian has set a fundraising goal of $75,000, and the funds raised will stay in the community to help those who need it most.

“The money raised in our Red Kettle Campaign stays here in the Meridian area,” Fisher said. “This means we can serve a meal to someone who is hungry, help keep the lights on for a family struggling to pay a utility bill, or provide hope to those in crisis for months to come.”

Now in its 134th year, The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign is one of the world’s oldest and largest charitable campaigns. Every year, the campaign raises millions of dollars nationwide to provide year-round shelter for the homeless, meals for the hungry, financial assistance to families struggling to pay their bills, after-school and summer camp programs for kids, disaster relief, and many other services to America’s most vulnerable populations.

For more information about The Salvation Army of Meridian call 601-483-6156.