Mystery Donor Drops $1,200 Gold Coin Into Salvation Army Kettle
ST. CLAIR SHORES (WWJ) - Once again, an anonymous donor has dropped a valuable gold coin in a red kettle for the Salvation Army in metro Detroit.
Major Kevin Van Ze says that— just like the last two years — someone donated a 1980 gold South African Krugerrand.
The coin's value is estimated at a whopping $1,200.
"It's a fabulously wonderful thing, and we figured out that it was the same location, that now makes three years in a row...at the Kroger on Marter and Jefferson in St. Clair Shores," Van Ze said.
"This was an unwrapped Krugerrand — it wasn't in any protective casing or anything. There would've been no way for the bell-ringer to know until we got back and counted the bucket out and discovered that this coin doesn't look quite like the rest."
Van Ze said the Salvation Army will sell the coin, with proceeds going to help those in need this Christmas.
He said the money could be used to buy up to 80 new toys or 48 winter coats.
"It's certainly more than what we would normally look for (from a single kettle)," he said. "It's probably equal to about four days at most of our bell-ringing locations."
Meantime, the Flint Journal reports a 1979 coin worth $1,100 was deposited in a kettle at a grocery store in Flushing. The Salvation Army of Genesee County says it has been years since a gold coin was donated.
To learn more about what the Salvation Army does or to make a donation, visit this link.
