Mystery Donor Drops Gold Coin Worth Thousands In Salvation Army Bucket

The Salvation Army of Barre, Vermont, received a heartwarming surprise when a gold coin worth $4,100 was discovered in one of its Red Kettle Campaign donation buckets. The coin was hidden inside a taped dollar bill and dropped off anonymously, providing a significant boost to the organization's fundraising efforts.

The Salvation Army staff took the coin to a jeweler for appraisal, confirming its value. Lt. Caitlin Lyle-DeLong expressed gratitude for the generous donation, stating that it will help cover essential needs such as heating, housing, and meals for local families. "It helps us feed our kids that come on Tuesday nights for music lessons," Lyle-DeLong told WPTZ. "It helps put oil in somebody's oil tank, and it really means a lot."

The unexpected gift comes as the Salvation Army works toward its $55,000 fundraising goal. So far, they have reached about 30% of that target. The Red Kettle Campaign, a tradition since 1891, runs through Christmas Eve, and the organization hopes to meet its goal by then.

This is not the first time the Barre location has received such a donation. In 2023, a gold coin worth $2,000 was also anonymously donated. The Salvation Army's efforts continue to provide vital support to those in need during the holiday season and beyond.