Created: 11/20/2009 5:57:56 PM 
High Point, NC -- You don't need to dig in your pocket for change to fill the Salvation Army's kettles. Now, you can swipe your card at some locations. It's a move expected to bring in more donations.
The business that created the idea, Secure Pointe Technologies is based in Reidsville. Don Brock, the President of the company, told WFMY News 2's Ashley Smith how he came up with the idea and how he makes sure they're safe to use.
"We tested in Dallas and Atlanta. The net result was, the average cash gift was $2, and the average donation with debit and credit was $15. So it was a 650% increase," said Brock. Since last year's successful test, more than 100 Salvation Army organizations, including High Point, picked up the card reader mechanism across the country. "We went from two cities to over 100, so if we keep that up, I guess we'll probably be in a 1000 cities. Hopefully, in 30 to 40 states. And within three to five years, we want to saturate the country," said Brock.
He says he came up with idea after doing some research on the age group of 25 year-old adults and younger. He realized a credit card reader like you find in a grocery store would be a perfect solution for the generation that doesn't carry cash or checks, "You just pick it up. You touch debit or credit. You actually punch in the amount you want to give and you swipe your card. It transmits in 2 to 5 seconds and you get two tax receipts back. You put one in the kettle, keep one for your taxes and you are done."
