Group says members won’t ask for money by phone

News of a lawsuit centred around fundraising for search-and-rescue teams has prompted a “donor beware” reminder.

“Every year about this time we get calls from the public saying, ‘I donated,’ and we have no record of it,” said Jim McAllister, a Sidney-based search-and-rescue volunteer and director-atlarge with the B.C. Search and Rescue Association.

“It causes concerns for us and other search-and-rescue groups who are out every day saving lives and raising funds.”

McAllister’s comments were in response to a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court by North Shore Rescue that centres on fundraising.

McAllister said the association’s search-and-rescue teams don’t do telephone solicitations.

“That is the first flag,” he said. “If you’re being called, it’s probably not being tied to one of our organizations.”

He said anyone with concerns can go the B.C. Search and Rescue Association’s website (bcsara.com) to see a list of all rescue teams and where they are located.

Rob Duffus, director of administration for Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, said his group does not solicit funds over the phone.

“We make it clear on our website and want all potential donors to know that we do not hire agents or conduct telemarketing ourselves,” he said.

Duffus said people who receive calls should ask for a charity’s name and charity number.