By Greg Fry

Salvation Army falls short of fundraising goal; considering new way of accepting donations next year

Dec 29, 2017 | 10:23 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Salvation Army fell well short of its fundraising goal for its kettle campaign this year and as a result is considering a new way of raising money next year.

Major Paul Trickett says the kettles raised $170,000 this holiday season, about $30,000 less than it had hoped.

And although the money raised is enough to see the Salvation Army through 2018, he says it may be time to start accepting debit and credit card donations.

“I do believe the actual paper money or change in the pocket has changed,” he says CFJC Today. “I’m the same way, I use cards on almost every transaction. We are looking possibly next year at some kind of system at the kettle where someone can use their debit or credit card.”

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Trickett says the possible change is under serious consideration due to the fact there’s been a decline in kettle donations over the past six years or so now.

“I think it’s a societal thing that we need to change with as well.”

He says debit and credit card donations were accepted at kettle stops in Toronto this year and notes the system has been used in the U.S. for years, though he still has some concerns.

“There is a cost to bringing those in and we want to weigh out the cost because every cent that we make stays in our community and we don’t pay anyone, so we want to make every cent count. We don’t want to spend money that we don’t have to spend or lose money trying to raise money. It’s a really tricky game to play.”

All that being said, Trickett is still pleased with the amount of money raised this year.

“I really want to say thank you because even though we didn’t make our total I’m thinking $170,000 in 33 days of collecting really does show the trust Kamloops has in the Salvation Army. We’ve been here over 100 years and I think we’ve proven to people we make their dollar count.”