Salvation Army in Waukegan collects first gold coins of the Christmas season
Ahead of the iconic Salvation Army Red Kettles hitting the streets, the first gold coins of the Christmas season have been donated in Waukegan.
Two gold coins, valued at approximately $4,250, were hand delivered by separate visitors to the Waukegan Corps Community Center Monday afternoon.
The coins were dropped off on behalf of anonymous donors a couple of hours apart. The first coin, a one-ounce South African gold Krugerrand, is valued at about $2,750 and came with a message that the donor wants to continue to help needy families. The second is a half-ounce $25 Gold American Eagle Coin worth approximately $1,500.
Dropping gold coins in kettles has become a welcome annual tradition for the Salvation Army Corps around the suburbs. The Christmas fundraising campaign provides the majority of the annual budget and provides food and services for people in need.
“These gold coins will help us fund the services that help people in Waukegan all year long,” Major Dan Faundez, corps officer at The Salvation Army Waukegan Corps, said in a press release. “We hope the generosity of these donors will be matched many times over this Christmas season.”
Kettles will start appearing around the suburbs this week.