(Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

Cassie's Charity Drive

Kamloops teen Cassie McNutt raises more than $117,000 for local hospice

Dec 29, 2023 | 1:58 PM

KAMLOOPS – The Kamloops teen responsible for raising thousands of dollars for the Kamloops Hospice has once again surpassed her fundraising goal.

Each year, Cassie McNutt and her family arrange thousands of Christmas lights outside their Dallas home. They collect monetary donations as well as wish list items for the Kamloops Hospice.

This year was the fifth annual charity drive and McNutt set out to beat her fundraising record.

“My goal is $80,000 and the monetary donations are over $117,00, right now,” McNutt told CFJC News. “The 50/50 went up to over $52,000. We were able to give $26,360 away to our lucky winner, which is really amazing. We’ve collected lots of wish list items. It’s just been absolutely amazing this year, like nothing that I would have expected.”

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McNutt says she looks forward to this charity drive every year, but she never expects how much support she has received.

“Looking back to getting just over $1,000 in 2019, and like, having no clue how this could have ever turned out five years later,” she explained. “It’s just been an amazing part of my family’s life and of my life and been able to give me so many valuable skills for the rest of my life – and to be able to support my community and inspire other people to begin something similar.”