Gold Coins Boost Holiday Spirits for the Salvation Army
Posted by Luis Marini on Tue, Jan 03, 2012 @ 12:40 PM
Now that 2012 is upon us, it’s a great time to reflect on traditions that define the holiday season. Every year during the Christmas season, volunteers for the Salvation Army position themselves at business entrances with a red kettle in hand to raise money for needy families in their communities.
By ringing a bell, playing musical instruments or singing Christmas carols, volunteers attract 
and encourage shoppers and passersby to make a monetary donation – big or small – to help provide food, clothing, toys and financial assistance to more than 4.5 million people in need.
While donations in any denomination are welcomed and appreciated, every year a few donors go above and beyond by dropping gold coins into the kettle, thus making significant contributions to the campaign and their local communities.
Red Kettle History
Origins of the Red Kettle campaign date back to the late 1800s when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee made it his personal mission to provide a free Christmas dinner to poverty-stricken families in San Francisco.
To raise funds for the project, McFee remembered back to his days as a sailor in England. There was always a large iron kettle called “Simpson’s Pot” displayed at Stage Landing in Liverpool where the boats arrived. People walking by would throw spare change into the pot to benefit needy families.
Following this example, McFee placed a similar pot at Oakland Ferry Landing, with a sign that said, “Keep the pot boiling.” Soon after, he was able to provide food for 1,000 poor individuals in San Francisco.
The kettle idea spread quickly across the country, and eventually across the world. Today, the signature Salvation Army kettles can be seen in Europe, Korea, Japan and Chile.
Generous Community Members Donate Gold
Most consumers drop spare change into the red kettle, and some write checks, but every year a handful of community members throughout the world make a significant contribution to the Christmas fundraiser. Most commonly, this is in the form of gold coins, including the American Gold Eagle and South African Kruggerand, and even rare gold coins such as the Quarter Eagle and Double Eagle.
Here are some notable 2011 donations:
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Frederick, MD – Five Kruggerand gold coins were donated by the owner of a local coin exchange, who then purchased them back from the Salvation Army for $9,000.
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Detroit, MI – Gold necklaces and gold bands were among the items donated in different kettles throughout the region. The items were valued at more than $800.
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Fairbanks, AK – Ten one-ounce silver bars were found in six red kettles throughout the Fairbanks area on Friday, Dec. 23. With the spot price just under $30 that day, the bars were worth nearly $300 cumulatively. In addition, diamond rings and silver coins were among the items donated during the 2011 season.
Getting Involved
The Salvation Army offers a number of ways to help out and give back in addition to its Red Kettle campaign. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with the Salvation Army in your area, check out the volunteer page on the organization’s website.
Happy New Year from Metallix Direct Gold!
Was there a large donation made to a red kettle in your area? How did you give back to your community this holiday season? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
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