$1,000 in silver dollars dropped into Salvation Army kettles
Donor brought the Salvation Army $1,000 closer to reaching its goal of $300,000 by Christmas Eve
Most of us have dropped a coin or two into a Salvation Army kettle.
They're almost too ubiquitous. Were it not for the sound of the bell, the kettles could easily become just another thing that blends into the background of holiday bustle.
The little red kettles and the bell-ringing, well-wishing collectors have become a symbol of the holiday season as durable and iconic as toy trains, fir trees or mistletoe.
At least one person in Sioux Falls still takes the kettles pretty seriously.
Twice last month, bell-ringers returned from a shift to find a set of 30 silver dollars in their kettle, along with a note asking the Salvation Army to use the money for good.
Both notes made reference to the Bible story of Judas, who received 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus.
One note, delivered Nov. 15, read "When Judas chose silver over Jesus Christ, he chose this world. I chose God's world in heaven. I'm giving back what Judas took. I chose God and not silver and riches of this world. Do good with this money I pray."
The second note came after Black Friday, a timing for which the anonymous donor apologized ("like others, I got wrapped up in the world"). That one also had an explicit Judas reference.
"I am giving back what Judas took," it said.
The coins are all fairly new, minted from 2005-2015. Gary Emigh buys silver dollars at his Western Mall shop, Midwest Gold and Silver, for the going rate of $18 each. Buying them costs $6 more.
"A thousand dollars would be about right," Emigh said of the value of the donation.
That means the anonymous donor brought the Salvation Army $1,000 closer to reaching its goal of $300,000 by Christmas Eve.
It's been years since Sioux Falls Major Tom Riggs has seen a gift that size, and the first time he's seen one so specific.
"We've gotten a few gold coins, but nothing like this," Riggs said.
The organization updates its progress on its Facebook page nearly every day. The group is a third of the way to its goal, but there's at least one major fundraising push planned.
On Saturday, every $20 bill donated will be met by an $80 match, donated by One American Bank.
The kettles are located at Hy-Vee, Walmart and Sam's Club, Fareway Foods, Sunshine, Walgreens, Kmart, JCPenney, Macys, Hobby Lobby and JC Penny stores in Sioux Falls. Donations can also be made online at www.salvationarmy.org.
The red kettle program was started in 1891 in San Francisco. The money is used to feed the hungry, but also to support other Salvation Army programs, such as rent and utility assistance, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets.
John Hult is the Reader's Watchdog reporter for Argus Leader Media. Contact him with questions and concerns at 605-331-2301, 605-370-8617. You can tweet him @ArgusJHult or find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ArgusReadersWatchdog