A donor gave a coin worth $750 to the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign in Arlington Heights, Ill Saturday The Daily Herald reported.
The gift is essential to the struggling times the Salvation Army is currently enduring.
"Gold coins found in Salvation Army Red Kettles have become a much-anticipated holiday tradition of giving in Chicago and surrounding suburbs," the organization stated in a news release The Daily Herald reported. "The philanthropic tradition of dropping gold coins into Salvation Army kettles actually began right here and dates back more than 25 years, when the first gold coin was deposited in McHenry County."
Offerings have decreased 13 percent to $79,000 from the last year. This can be because of weather, and Thanksgiving Day The Daily Ardmoreite reported. Volunteers have also been absent at regular locations when the weather is bad.
"The Red Kettle Campaign is our most crucial fundraising period," Major Ron Busroe, Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army said in a post on the organization's blog. "The shorter holiday season and unfortunate winter storms have impacted the number of donations we've received in some areas of the country. As a result, it's possible we will not meet our national fundraising goal for the Christmas season."
Eighty-seven cents of each dollar donated is used to assist those who need help via toy drives, food drives. The Salvation Army also does so through many different ways according to the campaign's Volunteer First website.
The campaign allows the Salvation Army to give food, toys, and clothing to more than six million people throughout the Christmas holiday. The initiative also helps over thirty-four million people affected by any catastrophe the Volunteer First Website said.
The campaign began in 1891 in San Francisco, and has been known to be the organization's most important fundraiser according to the website.
