A Good Samaritan’s generous donation came at the perfect time for the Flathead Valley Salvation Army.
Someone recently put a valuable gold coin in one of the organization’s signature red kettles at the Smith’s grocery store in Columbia Falls.
Salvation Army Major Steve Svenson says they didn’t know what they had been given until the daily contributions were being tallied.
"The coin sorter said, 'Hey, this coin doesn’t fit through the machine.' I said, 'That’s a gold coin!' It was about an ounce – a Liberty Head Double Eagle, to be exact."
A local coin dealer valued the gold at $1,060. Svenson says that’s a real boost since donations at that collection site are lagging this year.
The holiday Red Kettle program is a key fundraiser for the Salvation Army which uses the proceeds for its various social programs.
Svenson says they have no idea who donated the gold coin.
