Salvation Army Gets Big Donation From Small Coin

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Tim Tidwell, a Salvation Army Bell Ringer, said he quickly realized that whatever was stuffed inside the thick envelope dropped off at his Dallas Red Kettle location Friday wasn't an ordinary donation.

"I knew it was something special, but I didn't know what," Tidwell said.

He said he was expecting a handful of quarters; maybe it was someone who had been helped by the Salvation Army in the past, just wanting to pay back with a little extra.

But what Salvation Army officials found inside that envelope was a South African gold coin, a Krugerrand, valued between $1,300 and $1,500.

"I've heard, you know, around the United States that typically gold coins will appear in kettles throughout the country, it's always a different place," said Lt. Patrick Jones, a spokesman for the Salvation Army. "We don't really know who the donor is or what their motivation is for being so generous."

The Krugerrand was first minted in 1967 to help promote South African gold. The coin is named for Paul Kruger, who also graces the front of the golden piece.

"I was shocked at what it was," Tidwell said. "I couldn't really believe it."

The Red Kettle campaign, Jones said, helps the Salvation Army pay for its operating costs and helps the nonprofit provide donations to the needy. Jones said unexpected donations like this help the organization to operate during the whole year.

"This is just going to stretch our ability so much further to help more people," Jones said.