Salvation Army volunteer Red Kettle counters were delighted to discover the half ounce Gold American Eagle coin that turned up recently in a Red Kettle manned by the Daybreak Rotary Club.

Advisory board members say that this had been a regular occurrence in Kalispell over the years. But last year, due to strict Covid-19 restrictions, the Salvation Army went strictly online with a Virtual Red Kettle campaign.

When the Salvation Army receives donations such as gold coins, the coins are appraised and sold at a local gold shop and the money credited to the kettle in which it was dropped.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generosity” Maj. Larry J. Feist, Corps Officer said. “Whether it is gold coins or pennies, every donation works together allowing us to help our most vulnerable neighbors in the Flathead Valley. This has been a busy kettle season and we finish up Christmas Eve. Because of the generosity of this community, we can continue to help others.”