Touchless Giving Option Helps The Salvation Army to Overcome Challenges Brought on by the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many challenges to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign, its largest fundraising drive of the year. At a time when more and more individuals and families are facing new financial challenges and frightening realities, there has been a decline in foot traffic, fewer kettles have been mobilized and there has been increased difficulties in securing volunteers who are typically older and at greater risk.
To help boost this year’s fundraising efforts, The Salvation Army Canada, Rogers Communications and tiptap are providing a touchless giving option for Canadians to safely donate to the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign, which provides hope and support, without discrimination, to vulnerable people in 400 communities across the country, serving 1.9 million people in 2019.
“Touchless giving will support the essential work The Salvation Army does in our communities”
“We saw an opportunity to not just replicate the same cash donation experience, but to create something new and better to help serve our communities,” says Chris Greenfield, CEO and Founder of tiptap. “Since the early days, Rogers shared our vision of community stewardship, and I’m inspired by how this technology partnership for digital, touchless giving will support the essential work The Salvation Army does in our communities.”
As the coronavirus continues to impact lives, and with the Christmas season around the corner, there is a lot of uncertainty and it’s hard not to wonder what will happen next.
“I’m a single parent of a two and six-year-old,” says Jennifer. “I’ve lived with my parents since my husband and I separated. COVID-19 caused my employer to reduce my hours and my family continue to support our basic needs. Then, when my dad’s hours of work were cut back, they could only do so much.”
“This new technology for our 2020 Christmas Kettle Campaign will help us continue to operate our life-changing programs”
“This has been a year like no other. The need is great – but the opportunities are even greater,” says Lt-Colonel John P. Murray, spokesperson for The Salvation Army in Canada. “Enabled by Rogers and tiptap, we are adding another option for Canadians who want to support The Salvation Army in their communities. As life became more challenging this year for so many people, this new technology for our 2020 Christmas Kettle Campaign will help us continue to operate our life-changing programs.”
The rollout of the 1,500 digital donation units on December 1 is easy-to-use and safe. A donor places their debit or credit card up to the digital tile amount they want to donate. It’s as simple as that!
“When we delivered the tiptap units to frontline workers in Eastern and Northern Ontario, their excitement grew,” says Greenfield. “Many people said these were exactly what they needed to boost fundraising efforts during these difficult times. It was a clear reminder of why tiptap is doing this and how important it is.”
By Linda Leigh
