$500,000 Check Dropped into Red Kettle
Rosemount, MN - (KROC AM News) - History was made over the weekend at a Salvation Army kettle in the Twin Cities. A check for $500,000 was left in the red kettle located outside a Cub Foods store in Rosemount on Saturday.
The head of the Salvation Army in the Twin Cities says that was the largest, single donation ever made to a red kettle in the metro area, perhaps in all of Minnesota. Major Jeff Strickler says the check came from a Minnesota couple who wish to remain anonymous He says prior to this donation, the largest single gift in the Twin Cities was $25,000.
“We are simply stunned and honored to have received such a large gift,” said Strickler. “This is a true blessing and it could not come at a better time for The Salvation Army and the people we serve.”
He says the anonymous donors made the gift in hopes of encouraging others to give as generously as they can, too. Strickler says they also wanted to honor one of their fathers, who served in the trenches in World War I, and was always grateful to the Salvation Army Donut Lassies who brought soldiers free coffee and donuts. That simple act of kindness and comfort made a lasting impression and created a family legacy of supporting The Salvation Army.
The large donation comes at a good time for The Twin Cities Salvation Army. They set an ambitious goal of raising $11.6 million during the Christmas campaign.