CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Cedar Rapids Salvation Army is expressing gratitude after receiving a coin worth $1,600 from an anonymous donor.
The organization says the one ounce Canadian pure gold coin was found in one of their Linn County area Red Kettles.
The Cedar Rapids chapter is calling the donation an unexpected blessing as their holiday campaign is sitting at 83 percent of its goal of $711,000.
The group is dealing with increased demand for its services because of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the August derecho. It's also recovering from substantial damage to its facility from the derecho.
The Red Kettle campaign ends at 4 pm on Christmas Eve.
The head of the Cedar Rapids Salvation Army has acknowledged the gold coin donation.
“This is truly a wonderful gift in a time of unbelievable need”, said Captain Shawn DeBaar, Salvation Army Corps Officer. “Our community has dealt with so much this year and The Salvation Army has served a record number of our neighbors due to that need. This gold coin is an affirmation of that work and the knowledge that the need will remain into the new year”.
Anyone still wanting to serve as a bell ringer can sign up here.