McNutt House, Dallas Drive (Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

Cassie's Charity Drive

Kamloops teen raises $56k for Hospice House

Dec 21, 2022 | 4:36 PM

KAMLOOPS —Cassie’s Charity Drive – an annual fundraiser put on by 16-year-old Cassie McNutt has more than doubled its goal of raising $20,000 towards new beds at Kamloops Hospice.

The silent auction portion of the fundraiser ended Tuesday night and the Kamloops high-school student’s fourth-year has been the richest campaign yet.

“Four years ago we raised, I believe just over a thousand dollars and I thought that was a crazy amount, and now we’re at $56 thousand and it’s just crazy to see that,” McNutt said.

Last year the local teen raised almost $20 thousand and with that was able to purchase two lifts for the care home.

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“I’m just surprised every day honestly, by the generosity of Kamloops,” she told CFJC News. “Like how much they supported us and how crazy it’s gotten, how big it’s gotten and how well-known the charity drive is now.”

The online silent auction ended Tuesday, but McNutt will still be collecting monetary donations and hospice wish-list items until the end of the month.

Donations can be made online or dropped off at the McNutt house at 5212 Dallas Drive.

The Christmas display at McNutt’s house – made up of more than 42 thousand lights – will continue to run each night until the end of the campaign on December 31.

“It’s incredible, our goal was $20 thousand and I didn’t think we were going to reach $56 thousand or go over it this much and it just keeps going up,” McNutt.

According to McNutt, brainstorming has already begun for next year’s light display and campaign. The family says it expects it to be even bigger next year.

For more information on Cassie’s Charity Drive, or to make a donation click here.