You know it's the holiday season when the familiar sound of ringing bells returns outside department and grocery stores. Those ringing bells and iconic red kettles started popping up again last Friday here in the Sioux Empire, as the Salvation Army kicked off their 129th year of the Red Kettle charitable giving campaign.

KSFY TV is reporting this year's Red Kettle campaign will feature a new high-tech option at some locations.

Organizers, told KSFY, this year the Salvation Army has begun to place smart chips and QR codes on Red Kettle signs across select donation locations throughout Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties.

The move will allow shoppers to simply bump or scan their phones to make a digital donation through Apple Pay and Google Pay.

According to KSFY, the Salvation Army elected to make the new "Kettle Pay" change in response to the country becoming an increasingly "cashless" society.

The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign uses all the money collected to provide toys, clothes, and food for those in need during the Christmas season.

Those wishing to donate can do so at any of the more than 25,000 traditional Red Kettles found on street corners and in front of stores throughout the country.

Red Kettle donations can also be made online at Give.SalvationArmyUSA.org, or by using your phone. Just text KETTLE to 91999.

Source: KSFY TV

More From KYBB-FM / B102.7