Those in the giving spirit will have a few more options when it comes to donating to the Salvation Army’s annual kettle campaign this year.

Debit and credit cards will be accepted at certain locations along with cash.

The annual fundraising campaign held through the Christmas season was launched Wednesday at city hall, with mayor and council making the first official donation.

Ian McKenzie, the local Salvation Army’s executive director, said in an interview the Whitehorse campaign is taking part in a national effort by the Salvation Army to try out accepting donations by debit or credit cards this year.

“We decided it would be a good thing to try this year,” he told the Star.

As he explained, many people are carrying less cash, with debit/credit card payment options commonplace. That means many don’t have the extra cash or change they once may have had to donate to the kettle.

This year’s trial effort will see the Whitehorse campaign have two wireless payment terminals.

One will be available at the kettle inside Wyke’s Your Independent Grocer. The other will be moved around to the five other kettles throughout the campaign, which will end Dec. 24.

The other kettles will be set up at Save On Foods, Canadian Tire, Walmart, the Real Canadian Superstore and the Whitehorse liquor store.

Officials will look at how the debit/credit card donation options go here and elsewhere in the country to determine whether it’s successful and may be used in future years.

McKenzie noted the kettles also feature a bar code that anyone wanting to donate can scan into a smartphone or tablet.

It will take them to a website – FillTheKettle.com – where donations can also be made to that specific kettle, with the money going to the Salvation Army’s local initiatives.

McKenzie said a goal of raising $80,000 has been set for this year’s Whitehorse campaign.

The Salvation Army in Whitehorse greatly surpassed last year’s goal of raising $78,000, taking in more than $100,000 over the campaign, largely thanks to a generous anonymous donation.

The amount provided has never been revealed. Officials have expressed their gratitude in previous interviews, noting it ensured the organization met its goal. (There had been concerns in the midst of the campaign that the goal would not be reached.)

While last year’s effort ended well over its stated goal, McKenzie said, that was an anomaly due to the large anonymous contribution.

So, officials opted to set a goal for 2018 that’s just slightly higher than last year.

The money raised from the Christmas campaign goes to the Salvation Army’s local operations, such as its new Centre of Hope shelter on Alexander Street at Fourth Avenue.

McKenzie noted the organization is also continuing to add to its list of volunteers who staff the kettles during the campaign’s 1,900 “kettle hours”.

While the Salvation Army has a list of volunteers and a number of organizations who help out, he noted, there are a number of two-hour shifts to fill during the campaign.

Anyone with as little time as two hours can volunteer, he said, noting the organization’s appreciation to those who help out.

Those interested in volunteering can call 335-0571 or email whitehorse.sa.kettles@gmail.com.