TULSA -- Some may drop spare change in The Salvation Army red kettles, but one donor put something a little more special inside kettles in Tulsa.
"These are very rare coins here, these gold pieces are over 100 years old," said Captain Ken Chapman, Area Commander of The Salvation Army in Tulsa.
They discovered five U.S. $20 gold pieces, plus three Krugerrands, which are extremely rare gold coins from South Africa.
“In the 1930's they were considered illegal to own, people were supposed to send them in and have them melted," said Mike Anderson at Tulsa Gold and Silver.
Decades later they landed in the hands of The Salvation Army worth over $8,000. This is a much needed donation to reach their $700,000 goal, and three days before deadline they are 20% behind the mark.
“This makes a big dent in that and I think it also encourages other people to want to be generous as well." said Captain Chapman.
The giving spirit did not stop at the coins. Tulsa Gold and Silver also signed the dotted line for a donation to The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign.
“We match their kettle drive on two Saturdays in December, so this year we matched $25,000,” said Anderson.
There's no telling if one person scattered the coins in different kettles or if there are multiple donors, but The Salvation Army has a special message for those who gave the rare pieces to the campaign.
“I'm grateful to whoever this person is. I want to say thank you, thank you for caring for other people,” said Captain Chapman.
Another person wrapped five $100 bills in $1 bills and put them in red kettles, giving The Salvation Army a pleasant surprise while counting donations.
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