The Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Area Command is looking to this and other new initiatives to help reach its $US1.6 million ($3.58 million) holiday fundraising goals.

Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Area Commander Major James Seilor said the decision to introduce text messaging was about increasing the donor’s ease and convenience.

“Text messaging is available to 250 million mobile phone users in the United States alone. With the regular use of debit and credit cards, many shoppers are short on loose change or cash in-hand. We want to afford anyone and everyone who desires to make a donation, a user friendly and convenient means to do so,” he said.