Salvation Army Kettles Strike Gold

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Salvation Army red kettles are coming up golden in Indiana.

The charity says anonymous donors have left gold coins in kettles in Mishawaka and Kokomo this Christmas season.

The South Bend Tribune reports that someone dropped a 1-ounce U.S. gold coin worth $1,400 in a kettle outside a Sam's Club in Mishawaka. The coin was wrapped in a $100 bill and a small note thanking the organization for "doing God's work."

The Kokomo Tribune reports that another donor dropped a South African Krugerrand worth more than $1,400 in a kettle at Markland Mall in Kokomo.

The Salvation Army also has received four gold coins in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.

Despite the gold coin donations, officials in South Bend and Kokomo say donations are running behind expectations.

Comments

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

06:36 PM on 12/10/2010

Give the coins to a real charity. Not some church masquerading as a charity.

[mlkx]

10:31 AM on 12/09/2010

If you want to read something about how SA discriminates against gay people who are need of help you may want to read this

http://www.bilerico.com/2010/11/why_you_shouldnt_give_to_the_salvation_army.php

[qirin]

12:08 PM on 12/09/2010

Ooh, it's on a web page...must be true.

[signgrrl]

06:42 PM on 12/10/2010

no, that's been true for a while

[Dave A]

08:20 AM on 12/09/2010

Awwww that's where my Krugerrand went!
I've been looking all over for it

[TOS100]

07:20 AM on 12/09/2010

Doing god's work?

God is a lazy failure.

[kingofthenet]

05:00 AM on 12/09/2010

Well that looks like REAL gold so obviously it wasn't from Glen Becks 'Superior Gold'

[domokat]

01:34 AM on 12/09/2010

The SA is for real. It is a very deserving organization. If you need it, they will give you bread to eat, and money in your pocket on the spot. I've seen them do it. It is a charity with genuine compassion for the poor. Check it out, with today's economy, you may find an extra resource here.

[Huff Puffer]

11:48 PM on 12/08/2010

Gold coinage will make up for the kettler that got robbed and assaulted in my hood.

[losangeleslez]

10:26 PM on 12/08/2010

I will never support the Salvation Army. Bigoted organization. I'll be donating my dollars elsewhere.

[Zyzan]

02:50 AM on 12/09/2010

Well Said!

[mlkx]

10:18 PM on 12/08/2010

HP - what about running a report on the fact that the Salvation Army has policies that exclude their charitable resources from being used to support gay families.

[jonester]

08:24 AM on 12/09/2010

Of course, because their doing "Gods work".

[qirin]

08:38 AM on 12/09/2010

Because it's not true. They have been accused of being discriminatory towards homosexuals in their HIRING practices, however they maintain that, as a religious organization (like any church) Section VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 explicitly guarantees its right to discriminate on the basis of its religious beliefs in its hiring. However, they do not discriminate when providing aid.

[mlkx]

10:25 AM on 12/09/2010

Actually it is true; it is not just in their hiring...

There are many such instances of gay people and families being treated badly when they seek out help from SA,

Maybe you can start with this one

http://www.bilerico.com/2010/11/why_you_shouldnt_give_to_the_salvation_army.php

The story above dicusses one man's encounter with SA when it refused him and his boyfriend support unless they broke up.

[Oscar Nunez]

09:39 PM on 12/08/2010

Every year and for many years no matter where I am I hear this same story about a mystery gold coin bein put in. Makes me wonder if this isn't a stunt to get people to feel guilty about not donating to the salvation army kettle.

[Aj Sol]

09:41 PM on 12/08/2010

I would bet money on it.

[Aj Sol]

09:37 PM on 12/08/2010

Must be nice to be the Salvation Army, take take take and not give a fraction of that back into the community. Nice little racket I must admit. There are way better places to donate your money, places that will actually use that for good, and not funding right wing extremism.

[qirin]

12:32 AM on 12/09/2010

Not a fraction back to the community? That's weird because last time I checked they do things for the homeless like provide clothes, a bed and a warm meal. Struggling families also get grocery and clothing donations and assistance paying utilities. Be critical of them if you will, but don't make stuff up.

[Bobzmcishl]

12:40 AM on 12/09/2010

That is not true. They took care of one of my best friends from high school when he was recovering from alcoholism and got him back on his feet. There are millions of stories just like that. The SA is not perfect, no charitable organization is I would expect, but they do a lot of good in the world.

[TOS100]

07:22 AM on 12/09/2010

So long as you're not gay.

They help black folks now?

[zambiedude]

09:33 PM on 12/08/2010

Now that is what the holidays are about, especially Christmas, I'm glad that someone out there did that because it reminds us what this time of year is all about...

[edgarcaycedoc]

08:39 PM on 12/08/2010

Every time I pass into a store with the famous "red kettle" in front, I put in $1. I also give to "Toys for Tots" through the USMC, and contribute to a food basket at our church. We also make a good donation to our local food bank. These are all doing a tremendous service in our midst.

[NinjaPlease]

08:26 PM on 12/08/2010

They should set those kettles up outside of Goldmann Sachs, BofA, etc. Let the millionaires walk by and act like they don't see them. The poor are tired of doing it every year...

[signgrrl]

06:44 PM on 12/10/2010

amen to that.

[ScottSutton]

07:12 PM on 12/08/2010

I stopped donating to them for their political and social leanings. You should never discriminate when people are in need so I'll donate to an organization that serves all.