Gold coin valued at $1,200 dropped in Salvation Army bucket

On Nov. 25, someone dropped a gold coin wrapped in a $100 bill into the charity’s kettle outside a local Kroger supermarket, Springfield Salvation Army Resource Development Coordinator Ryan Ray said.

The 1-ounce pure gold coin is a 1978 South African Krugerrand and is valued at about $1,200, Ray said.

“It seems like every year we’re surprised with what’s put into our kettle,” he said. “We have no hint of who did this, which kind of makes it cool.”

The organization says that for every dollar donated to the Salvation Army in Clark County in Ohio, 83 cents goes back to the community.

According to Ray, it is the biggest fundraiser by the Salvation Army each year, and the goal is to bring in about $130,000.

So far, the Springfield chapter has raised more than $40,000.

“We’re relying on the community to maybe dig a little deeper and kind of make up for the loss,” Ray said, comparing the funds to the amount raised last year.

Larry Jones Sr., a Springfield man who donated at the same Kroger where the gold coin was dropped, said he’s benefited from the services the charity provides.

“Once my daughter went to their martial arts program,” Jones said. “You never know when you might need help or support from the Salvation Army.”