Gold Coin Dropped in Kettle Outside Sears at Northwoods Mall

Sometime Saturday afternoon, The Salvation Army received its first gold coin in one of its kettles since 2009. When the kettles were counted Saturday afternoon, the 1915 gold Liberty Head 2 ½ dollar coin was discovered in a kettle that had been manned at Northwoods Mall by a Girl Scout group. With the current price for an ounce of gold over $1,700, the discovery will help increase kettle totals in these closing weeks of ringing for 2011. A picture of the coin will be available soon at www.usc.salvationarmy.org/heartland, with an online auction to follow once the coin is appraised.

“We were pleasantly surprised at the generosity of this anonymous donor,” said Major Thomas McDowell, Peoria Corps Officer. The Salvation Army Corps Community Center will auction off the coin, with proceeds going to the Tree of Lights Campaign. The coin appraisal will determine where the auction will start.

All funds benefit The Salvation Army Tree of Lights Campaign which supports seasonal and year round programs for those in need. To date, the community has contributed $502,719 towards the Tree of Lights Campaign goal of $1,575,000.

Donations can be still be made at all area red kettles through December 24. Any donations after Christmas can be mailed to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655, or by calling (309) 655 7220 to charge on American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa.