THE Red Cross Red Shield Appeal has attracted hundreds of volunteers and raised thousands of dollars in Orange each year, and this weekend volunteers will again be knocking on doors for the annual fundraising drive.
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Those who are not at home, or do not get a volunteer knocking on their door but still want to make a donation, can donate online at http://salvos.org.au or, for the first time, donations can be made by text message.
Text the word FOOD to 1999 2769 for a $5 donation to be taken from phone credit or added to a phone bill. The amount will contribute to the Orange total, which has FOOD as its code word.
Since 2009, people in Orange have given almost $400,000 to the Red Shield Appeal, and last year’s Orange total was $54,000.
With the door knocking due to take place on Saturday and Sunday, about 250 students from Orange high schools have already registered to visit homes across the city in an effort to win their school a shield for most volunteers or highest percentage of volunteers.
Registrations can also be made at the Salvation Army hall on the corner of Kite Street and McNamara Street at 8.30am on Sunday.
Red Shield Appeal business chairman Tony Rodd said a lot of the students had already registered and collected their kits and they will be accompanied by an adult while taking part in the appeal.
With door knockers generally finding only one in three households at home, he said several methods were undertaken for collecting donations including leaving donation envelopes in letter boxes.
“We also have static collections at the main shopping centres,” Mr Rodd said.
“The Salvos will take the money anyway they can.
“People are really very generous in Orange.”
tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au