Christmas Surprise: Gold Coin Discovered in Red Kettle
With just days left in The Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle Christmas Campaign an unexpected surprise was found in a Richmond, Indiana Red Kettle on Saturday, December 19. A gold coin valued at $1,758 was found nestled among crumpled dollar bills and the spare change of Richmond shoppers.
This unexpected blessing couldn't have come at a better time. December 19 was "match day" for The Salvation Army. A volunteer’s legacy gift was providing matching dollars to double gifts up to $7,000 dropped into Red Kettles on the Saturday before Christmas. With the help of the valuable gold coin, a South African Krugerrand minted in 1971, The Salvation Army hopes that the final tally will reflect the full $7,000 match.
For bell ringer Greg DeHaven, Saturday was like any other busy shopping day at the Hobby Lobby in Richmond. Everyone was in great holiday spirits and giving generously, so Greg is unsure who the anonymous donor actually was. In fact, when he heard the news of the gold coin's discovery, Greg's response was, "What a blessing from God!"
Major Marion "Cappy" Moore, who operates The Salvation Army Richmond Corps alongside his wife, Major Rhonda, was just as surprised. "How encouraging," he said. "This reassures me that God wants to continue the work here in Richmond. I'd surely thank the donor, but I'm proud of a generous person that does their good deeds before God rather than before men."
Red Kettles will be out through Christmas Eve and help to fund Salvation Army programs year-round in Wayne County. In addition to Hobby Lobby, shoppers can find Red Kettles Needler's Fresh Market, Walmart, and Kroger. Anyone interested in volunteering to ring a bell this holiday season is invited to visit RegisterToRing.com and find a location, date, and time that works for their schedule. The Salvation Army is focused on keeping both volunteers and donors safe and healthy with new safety protocols that include regularly sanitizing the kettle equipment and using PPE. To learn more about how these safety protocols and what it means to be a bell ringer, visit SalvationArmyIndiana.org/bell-ringer.
The Salvation Army of Richmond has a goal of raising $49,000 this year through the iconic Red Kettles located throughout Wayne County. Every donation given to The Salvation Army through the annual Red Kettle Campaign provides help and hope to those in need, and all gifts stay right here in the community where it is given. Visit SalvationArmyIndiana.org/Rescue-Christmas to learn more about how you can help The Salvation Army rescue Christmas this year.
For more information about how to honor a loved one's legacy or how to include The Salvation Army in your estate plans, contact Christi Thieme, The Salvation Army's Director of Gift and Estate Planning at 317-224-1039. Additional information can be found online at MyPlan2Give.org.