It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it spreads a little joy. We're talking about someone placing a gold coin in a Salvation Army Kettle. It happened at Sam's Club in Mishawaka on Tuesday. They discovered the gold coin wrapped with a quote on a small piece of paper and a 100 dollar bill.
If bell ringing were a sport, you could say the bell ringer's at Mishawaka's Sam's Club on Tuesday won the SuperBowl. "I think he was kind of like a kid at Christmas opening a present." Major Timothy Best describing Dan Smethhurst, the 10-year employee who made the discovery.
Dan says, "I was picking up bell ringers and then after the bell ringers we take the money back and we count it. And I just happened to get the bucket that had the gold piece in it. It's exciting."
This gold coin, which they estimate will be worth about $1700, was wrapped in a quote by the wife of the Salvation Army's founder. And again wrapped inside a 100 dollar bill. They believe the same donor did the same thing last year. Same coin, wrapped in a different quote, wrapped in a 100 dollar bill -- same kettle. Dan found that one, too.
Dan says, "I'm grateful for it. And I thank the guy that does it. He's blessed and God's got a hold of him, I believe."
Major Best says, "I was very excited. I was hopeful, you know. I know that they've been donated in the past and I know it's a tradition around the country in the Salvation Army so, I was very hopeful that we would but there's no describing actually seeing the coin and knowing that you have it."
And it comes at a good time, as donations are down this year.
"It's been a little bit tougher. we're about $10,000 behind at this point as far as our kettle effort."
This golden donation gives them a needed push and a lot of hope.
"If you could get a message out to the person who did this, "What would you say?" "God Bless You, Love you all."
