Saint Grand strikes again!
Somebody dropped three donations of 16 crisp $100 bills into a Salvation Army red kettle Dec. 4, which suggests that the anonymous and affectionately-named donor “Saint Grand” is blessing Twin Cities Salvation Army for a 10th consecutive year.
Saint Grand started donating at Twin Cities red kettles in 2011, with numerous gifts of $1,000 dropped in various locations. Multiple donations of $1,000 continued for several years – always a tight bundle of new $100 bills – earning the unknown donor the Saint Grand moniker. In 2015, however, the giving pattern changed, and each gift was increased by $100 to a new total of $1,100. Every year since then, each of Saint Grand’s donations increased by another $100. In 2019, Saint Grand blessed The Salvation Army with eight $1,500 gifts.
The new $1,600 gifts discovered Friday continue that trend and seem to affirm that Saint Grand has returned. Not counting this year’s gifts, Saint Grand has donated a total of $139,700 to The Salvation Army since 2011. And even after 10 Christmases, his or her identity remains a mystery.
“The Salvation Army exists thanks to the generosity of people like Saint Grand,” said Lt. Colonel Dan Jennings, commander of The Salvation Army Northern Division, which serves Minnesota and North Dakota. “We may never know the identity of Saint Grand, but we want him or her to know how grateful we are, as these gifts will directly help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Jennings added that he wanted “to extend his personal thanks to all kettle bell-ringers and donors for their support during a particularly challenging time for everyone.”
The Twin Cities Salvation Army hopes to raise $10 million during its 2020 Christmas campaign, which runs through Dec. 31st.
Enlist in Love’s Army by giving a donation or ringing bells at a red kettle. Your gifts of time and money will help Rescue Christmas for people and families struggling to get through the pandemic.