Shortly before Thanksgiving, the local Salvation Army kettle drive was far off its target.
Lt. Susan Thwaite said it might take a “Christmas miracle” this holiday season for the Mon Valley Citadel's red kettle drive to reach its $50,000 goal.
That miracle might have been found in a kettle late last week.
As Thwaite was collecting the donations, a diamond-and-ruby ring was found left behind by a generous, although anonymous, donor. A note attached instructed the Salvation Army to use the ring to help the nonprofit agency reach its fundraising goal.
“It might be our little miracle,” Thwaite said. “It could be the beginning of a small Christmas miracle.”
Members of the Ringgold High School Interact Club were serving as volunteer bell ringers when the ring was left, sometime between 3 and 9 p.m. Thursday, in a kettle in front of Walmart.
Thwaite said finding discovery of the ring “definitely made us feel good.”
The kettle drive began Nov. 1, with volunteer ringers collecting outside Kmart, Walmart, Giant Eagle, Sweet Spot and Shop 'n Save in Rostraver, Duritza's in North Belle Vernon and the Monessen Foodland.
By Nov. 22, the drive had raised just $3,000, prompting Thwaite to seek “a miracle.”
That wish may have already been headed to fruition even before the holiday drive began to “ring” in.
After the slow start, the fundraising drive has exceeded $28,000 as of the start of the weekend. In contrast, the drive had just exceeded $10,000 at the start of December.
“If people continue to give, we should meet our goal of $50,000,” Thwaite said. “It gets incrementally better the closer to Christmas.”
Thwaite said the ring has been stored in a safe place for now.
She plans to “sell it to the highest bidder,” noting she has already received one offer of $200. She hopes to raise more, noting that every dollar raised from the sale of the ring will help a Valley family, or two or three.
Thwaite said each $100 raised or donated can help make Christmas a little brighter for a family of three.
For now, the ring has special significance for Thwaite and the Mon Valley Citadel of the Salvation Army as Christmas nears.
“I think it's a sign,” Thwaite said. “It was uplifting that someone gave something personal.”
Chris Buckley is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2642 or cbuckley@tribweb.com.
