Re: Sally Ann Kettle drive feeling the pinch (News, Dec. 18)
The Salvation Army kettles are a pleasant memory from my childhood. Dropping my few coins into them at Christmas gave me as much happiness as gifts at that age.
Now that I am older and can offer more support, I am also more aware of the fact that government is also eager to help.
Government cannot make good choices of charities to support, so they offer to supplement our gifts. Therefore, if I can afford to give, for example, $100, I write a cheque for $180. The receipt I get provides me with a tax credit of about $80. Because the kettle attendant cannot give receipts, I no longer use them as a means to contribute.
When we contribute cash to the Mustard Seed food bank at Thrifty foods, their registers print a receipt, making much larger gifts affordable.
Ideally, there would be a way for a kettle attendant to hand out receipts for larger donations. Because that seems impractical, kettle collections will mostly consist of small contributions, while more affluent donors will send in a cheque.
Rein Nienaber, Saanich
