Salvation Army sees gold coin dropped in kettle again
BY MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
12/19/12 at 5:06 AM
An anonymous donor dropped a gold South African Krugerrand wrapped in a $2 bill into one of the Tulsa Area Salvation Army's red kettles over the weekend.
The coin valued at $1,720 was dropped into the kettle in front of Dillard's at Woodland Hills Mall on Saturday. It was the 15th time in the last 16 years a mystery donor has put a Krugerrand in one of the kettles.
"This has been an amazing tradition for quite some time," said Maj. James Taylor, Tulsa Area Commander of The Salvation Army. "We certainly don't count on it, but it's a wonderful blessing when it happens."
The one-ounce gold coin is worth double the value for The Salvation Army because Tulsa Gold & Silver matched all red kettle donations on Saturday up to $10,000.
"That's $3,400 in one coin," Taylor said. "I think they knew what they were doing when they put the coin in on that day."
The business is going to match donations up to $15,000 this coming Saturday.
"We are proud to partner with The Salvation Army in making this a better Christmas for those in need," said Mike Anderson of Tulsa Gold & Silver.
The Salvation Army has raised about 80 percent of its Red Kettle Campaign goal of $650,000, Taylor said. Money collected in the red kettles is used year-round to assist people with emergency needs, such as help with rent and utility payments and food at its shelter.
"Although our visibility is more heightened during the holidays, it is important for the community to know that our Army's programs are ongoing," Taylor said. "We don't just hand out a blanket and a cup of coffee to a needy person. We want to give them a hand up to get them back on their feet and into a productive and fulfilling role in life."
Donations to the campaign can be made by calling 918-587-7801 or online at tulsaworld.com/salarmy People also can text JOY to 85944 to make a one-time $10 donation billed to their mobile phone.
Matching funds
Tulsa Gold and Silver will once again be matching donations for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign.
On Saturday the company will be matching all donations to the campaign up to $15,000.
All money in the Tulsa-area red kettles stays in the Tulsa area.
Original Print Headline: Kettle drive strikes gold again
Mike Averill 918-581-8489
mike.averill@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Tulsa Gold & Silver employee Mike Anderson holds the Krugerrand - valued at $1,720 - that was donated in a Salvation Army kettle outside of Woodland Hills Mall on Saturday. It was the 15th time in 16 years that someone has dropped a Krugerrand in a Salvation Army kettle. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Maj. James Taylor (left) of The Salvation Army stands with Tulsa Gold & Silver employee Mike Anderson after the anonymous donation of a gold coin valued at $1,720. "This has been an amazing tradition for quite some time," Taylor said. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
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