Salvation Army Ring-Off

BEAVERTON, ORE. - DEC. 17, 2013 - Landon Lee, 3, of Beaverton, gleefully took over bell-ringing duties for a few minutes at The Salvation Army's ring-off competition.

(Anna Marum/Beaverton Leader)

Update: Photo of Krugerrands added.

The Salvation Army reports that three gold coins dropped into a Beaverton kettle on Tuesday, Dec. 17, are valued at $4,275.

Nationwide, it appears to be the largest number of South African Krugerrands ever found in a single red kettle, said Lt. Jared Arnold, corps officer for the Salvation Army’s Tualatin Valley Citadel. The organization has no idea who donated the coins.

The three gold Krugerrands found in a Beaverton Salvation Army Kettle on Dec. 17.

The Krugerrands were donated at the Beaverton Town Square Fred Meyer on the same day as the city's ring-off competition between the mayor, police chief and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue chief.



Arnold said it's sort of an inside joke among Salvation Army volunteers – who will get the Krugerrand this year? The gold coins are rare, but have been donated in the past around the country. Another such coin, valued at $1,600, was found in a Portland kettle in December 2011, and others have been found in Portland in the past. The Associated Press reports that Kruggerands have been reported this year in Indiana, North Dakota and Iowa.

“They’re just a very precious gift in a lot of respects,” Arnold said, adding that the Salvation Army made sure the coins are indeed Krugerrands and “there’s not chocolate in them.”

The Salvation Army provides rental assistance, meals, clothing and other resources for the low-income, homeless, elderly and ill. About 40 percent of the organization’s budget stems from its holiday fundraising with bell-ringers and red kettles at local stores, Arnold said.

Along with the physical red kettle, the Salvation Army has online kettles for people who carry cards rather than cash or change – something Arnold said has become more common.



There is one week left before the end of the Salvation Army’s 2013 bell-ringing, Arnold said, but the funds will support the organization year-round.

--Kari Bray