Collections campaign adds feature: Donors can now text to give
Vermont Business Magazine The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) and the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington are giving their collection box campaign a new look and a new message. Join us for the official unveiling at 11 a.m. Friday, May 3, in front of Stephen & Burns on the Church Street Marketplace. Launched in 2013, Church Street’s donation boxes, featuring Lake Champlain’s famous monster “Champ” and his sister “Champette,” have collected thousands of dollars for COTS to help people facing the crisis of homelessness in Vermont.
“Our Champ and Champette collection boxes been amazing additions to the Marketplace,” said Ron Redmond, Executive Director of the Church Street Marketplace. “Our very generous community has donated more than $17,000 through these two collection boxes in the past six years.”
Now, the collection box campaign is getting a facelift: The “Positive Change” campaign debuts at the official unveiling on Friday, May 3, just in time for the 30th Annual COTS Walk, coming up Sunday (May 5) – with sunny skies and temps in the mid-60s forecast. The COTS Walk travels down the Marketplace as it winds its way through downtown Burlington, following the path a person facing homelessness might take to connect with COTS shelter and services.
Visitors to the Church Street Marketplace can look for the two new branded collection boxes in front of Stephen & Burns and in front of Kiss the Cook.
“With our two new collection boxes sporting bright colors and new graphics, we believe the ‘Positive Change’ program will increase awareness about homelessness in our community and raise more funds for COTS,” Redmond said.
The campaign has another new feature: Donations also can be made remotely anytime via a new “Text-to-Donate” option, sponsored by the Church Street Marketplace. To donate, text “COTS” to 41444 from a mobile phone.
Downtown businesses will hang window clings with the text-to-donate information and will have pamphlets at their register to give to customers to help spread the word.
“We are excited to begin utilizing the MobileCause platform and amplify our support of many nonprofits that we work with throughout the year,” Redmond said. “Providing our customers with alternative ways to give while embracing new technology will help generate more funds for the organizations doing so much to help members of the community.”
Founded in 1982, COTS provides emergency shelter, housing, prevention services and outreach to families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Last year, COTS served nearly 2,400 people (including 756 children); COTS is the service largest provider for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Vermont.
“We are grateful to the Church Street Marketplace for their partnership and many years of support,” said Rita Markley, COTS Executive Director. “We welcome these new Positive Change donation boxes to help us meet both the urgent needs of people facing homelessness as well as invest in long-term solutions to end homelessness.”
Source: COTS 4.30.2019