Bob Shay appreciated all the dollar bills and change donated to the Buddy Poppy program this week. But he fears one person gave a little more than they planned.

The Navy veteran and senior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars & Auxiliary Post 3603 was outside the Post Falls Walmart this week handing out the colorful red and green poppies. In exchange, people donated money earmarked to help veterans and dropped it into a small, wooden barrel on a table.

Many, Shay said, gave handfuls of change from purses. People were generous, he added, and the annual fundraiser was a success.

But later, he found a ring mixed in with the coins at the bottom of the barrel as he tallied up the contributions.

It’s a nice ring but is probably not something a veteran would put to good use.

“I don’t think someone meant to give us this,” he said.

Shay, who has been leading the local Buddy Poppy fundraiser for 10 years, was surprised to find the ring.

"I've gotten a lot of things dropped in the barrel — Chinese coins, European coins, Japanese coins. This is the first time I've ever gotten jewelry."

Shay doesn’t know if the ring is valuable, but he wants to try and find its owner, or at least confirm they meant to give it away.

Anyone who donated to the Buddy Poppy program at the Post Falls Walmart, and is missing a ring, can call the Post Falls VFW, 208-960-4104.