For the eighth straight year, an anonymous donor has dropped a $20 Liberty Eagle gold coin in one of The Salvation Army’s red kettles. The coin, as in previous years, was wrapped in a note that reads, “In loving memory of Mimi.” The coin is dated 1907 and has been valued at approximately $1,700.
This generous donation comes at a good time – with only 19 days left to ring, The Army is only at 34 percent of its 2012 goal of $720,000.
The donor doesn’t always drop off the coin at the same location, said Major Tom Louden, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Lee, Hendry & Glades Counties. This year’s coin was dropped off in Lehigh Acres.
In 2011, The Salvation Army served a total more than 20,000 individuals providing more than 37,000 gifts and 5,800 food baskets through its Christmas Cheer program. The organization is expecting similar numbers this year.