Red Kettle campaign nets gold coin in Naperville

A good Samaritan helped the Aurora Salvation Army ring in the start of the holiday season in a golden way.

The organization's annual fundraising effort received a major boost Friday when an anonymous donor dropped a one-ounce gold coin valued around $1,000 in a kettle outside a Naperville store.

Capt. Antonio Romero said the Salvation Army usually collects at least one South African Krugerrand every year in the suburbs. But the timing of the donation was unexpected.

“We were very surprised when that came up,” he said. “We don't recall receiving one this early.”

Every year, the Salvation Army collects money dropped into kettles throughout the suburbs as part of the national Red Kettle Campaign.

When a gold coin shows up, it's entered into an auction, where they each bring about $1,000, Romero said.

The volunteers, who spend hours standing outside stores, regardless of weather, were abuzz with excitement about the coin.

“It does a lot for the push to get us out there,” he said. “Our entire group of bellringers was extremely encouraged knowing we got this. It got us off to a great start and boosted morale.”

Romero said he's not sure if the same person leaves the coins every year or if others have started to mirror the donation.

“There has been a lot of speculation on who it could be,” he said. “But it's very difficult to tell, although several people have come to joke about it.”

The Salvation Army offers a number of social services, including prescription emergency assistance

“We are truly thankful for every donation but those like the coin shows us the generosity of our community,” he said. “It shows us that they believe in what we are doing. We are thankful for their trust. A big token like that shows us it's important for us to be out there.”