Earlier this month, volunteers in Florida discovered several gold coins among the donations for the Salvation Army’s Christmas kettle campaign.
This marks the fourth consecutive year an anonymous person has donated gold 50-peso coins issued by Mexico in 1947 to the kettle in Pompano Beach, Fla., which is just north of Fort Lauderdale. Two of the 70-year-old coins were discovered on Dec. 13 while another example was found about two weeks earlier. Each of the coins were wrapped in U.S. $1 banknotes and is worth more than $1,300 USD (about $1,675 Cdn.).
Representatives from the Salvation Army in Broward County said holiday donations provide meals, shelter, clothing and social services to more than 25,000 people in the county.
CANADIAN CHRISTMAS KETTLE DRIVE
This November, the Salvation Army officially launched its 2017 Christmas kettle campaign in Canada.
In its 127th year, the annual holiday campaign seeks donations from the public to help the Salvation Army assist millions of people living in poverty. With one in 10 Canadians struggling to make ends meet, the Salvation Army’s campaign highlights the fact poverty isn’t always easy to see.
With a national $21-million fundraising goal, the Christmas Kettle Campaign enables local Salvation Army units in 400 communities across Canada to help individuals and families with the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing and shelter. Contributions also allow the Salvation Army to continue operating its life-changing programs, such as substance abuse recovery, housing supports, job and skills training, and budgeting and education classes, which help people find a way out of poverty permanently. Every donation to a Christmas kettle remains in the community in which it was given in order to help local people in need. Last year, the Salvation Army helped more than 1.9 million people.
“For over 130 years, The Salvation Army has provided hope and dignity to people in need through the generosity of our donors and volunteers,” said Major John Murray, territorial public relations and development secretary.
“Hosted at more than 2,000 locations across Canada, the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign is our largest fundraising drive of the year and would not be possible without the thousands of kettle workers who volunteer their time.”