No spare change for the kettle? No problem. The Salvation Army can take mobile payments now. (Dreamstime TNS)

CHICAGO —

Mobile pay technology is coming to the Salvation Army’s red kettle campaign.

In an effort to expand its reach to people who don’t carry cash, donors this year will be able to use Apple Pay or Google Pay. Users can tap their smartphones on a sticker and make a donation.

People with older phones can scan a QR code for the same process. Red kettle bell ringers will continue to accept cash as well.

Scott Justvig, executive director of development and communications for the Salvation Army Metropolitan Division, said he hopes that enabling mobile donations will motivate younger generations to contribute to the holiday campaign.

About 70% of the money the Salvation Army collects for the year comes during the holidays, said Jackie Rachev, metropolitan division spokeswoman.

Adoption of the technology comes as Americans pivot away from using cash. In a 2018 Pew Research Center survey, about 29% of respondents said they made a purchase without cash in a typical week, up from 24% in 2015.

The Salvation Army tested the cashless option last year in Kansas City, New York, Dallas and Seattle. While it did not raise large amounts of money during its first year of testing, the charity wanted to provide different alternatives to cash donations, spokeswoman Karla Clark said in an email.

Kettle pay “will make it easier for people to donate and continue that annual tradition,” Rachev said.