AUSTRALIA
The Guardian (UK)
Helen Davidson
theguardian.com, Monday 26 May 2014
The Salvation Army’s annual doorknock appeal saw an almost 20% drop in donations this year, according to interim estimates, with potential donors citing damaging allegations about the organisation raised in the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.
The Red Shield Appeal doorknock – which sees scores of volunteers visit homes and public places across the country – raised just $4.97m on the weekend, according to the interim Sunday evening tally, well short of the $10m goal.
It was a drop of just under 20% on last year’s count, taken at the same time, of $6.17m. Previous appeals have also seen a decline year on year, but only of between 5% and 6%.
There was also a significant drop in the number of volunteer collectors signing up.
A spokesman for the Salvation Army, Bruce Harmer, told Guardian Australia there were a number of reasons for the reduced donations, not necessarily just the focus on the organisation in multiple hearings by the royal commission.
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