Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Sydney Chisholm

Cassie's Charity Drive

Fundraising Kamloops family awarded Order of Saint Lazarus

Apr 25, 2024 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS – In the five years the McNutt family has hosted its annual Christmas Charity Drive, more than $200,000 has been donated to the Kamloops Hospice under Cassie McNutt’s name.

In recognition of the McNutt family’s contributions to hospice care, it has been given the Order of Saint Lazarus Award.

Saint Lazarus in Canada is an organization that provides funding and resources for hospice palliative care, ecumenical endeavours and the eradication of leprosy.

When Cassie and her family started Cassie’s Christmas Charity Drive, they had no idea how much of an impact they would have.

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“We first started it just as kind of something to do at Christmas time,” said Cassie. “We put out a small box in front of the house to get some warm clothes for the Out Of The Cold shelter.”

Her father, Don McNutt, says that’s where her passion for charity began.

“I think the first time that she actually went out and gave a winter jacket to a homeless individual and came back and saw the expression on his face, you could tell right then that she was just it just knocked her off her feet,” said Don.

Since then, she has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity and collected hundreds of bags of clothing.

“I’ve seen some great things by youth, and this has to be — [I’m] getting emotional — but probably the most awesome thing that I have seen,” said Gord Sands, local member of The Order of Saint Lazarus, who nominated the McNutts for the award and presented them with it. “And I’m over 60 years old, so I’ve seen a lot. And yeah, the world could use more Cassie McNutts, for sure.”

Sands presented the family with the prestigious national award on Thursday afternoon, recognizing all the work it has done for end of life care.

“It’s just the feeling of helping and that it’s become so meaningful for all of the people and all of the community and… it’s great,” said Lisa McNutt, award recipient and Cassie’s mother. “I like the fact that when I go out and everybody is like, ‘My God, your daughter, your daughter,’ that just warms my heart.”

Despite Cassie graduating from high school this year, the family has no plans of stopping Cassie’s Christmas Drive, and plans for next year’s display are already in the works.