Mat-Su Salvation Army receives golden surprise

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Salvation Army discovered a golden surprise worth just under $1,500 inside a red kettle at the Knik Goose Bay Three Bears Dec. 7. An anonymous donor wrapped a gold 1981 South African gold Krugerrand coin inside a $5 bill and snuck it into the kettle.

“He snuck it there without any of us knowing,” Major Kevin E. Bottjen, Mat-Su Valley Salvation Army Corps Officer, said.

The red kettle fundraiser is the Salvation Army’s biggest of the year and it helps them operate with daily operations. It goes to a range of functions from utilities to youth and adult programs.

“Eighty-two cents of every dollar goes directly back into the community,” Bottjen said.

Last year on the same date, an anonymous donor donated a 1978 Krugerrand in the same fashion, only that coin came with a dedication. It didn’t say who it was to but simply in their memory.

“In their heart, they know who they’re doing it in memory of. It’s a great memorial and my guess is, whoever they’re memorializing, was probably also a very giving person and cared deeply about the Valley,” Bottjen said.

This donation follows a national trend. Numerous Krugerrand coins have been dropped inside red kettles in multiple states.

“It seems to be a tradition across the nation,” Bottjen said.

Bottjen speculated it could be the same person or perhaps a trend. He said the whole notion is a mystery, but one thing is clear. Whoever’s making these donations more concerned about making a difference than getting credit for it.

“I think they don’t want to make them about the center of attention and they just want to bless somebody, bless their neighbor, bless the community,” Bottjen said.

The coin is one ounce of gold and valued at $1,251 the same time last year. This year it’s worth a little under $1,500, according to Bottjen.

This is the third time someone has donated a gold Krugerrand coin to the Salvation Army in Alaska and the second time for the Mat-Su.

“That’s really exciting because it’s a short season,” Bottjen said.

Bottjen said the Salvation Army starts sending volunteers to ring bells at local grocery stores right after Thanksgiving. He said that Thanksgiving fell on a later date this year so they’ve lost six days to collect donations.

With Christmas around the corner, the Salvation Army is busily preparing for their annual Christmas dinner and Angel Tree toy drives. Each year, they donate boxes filled Christmas dinner items like turkey, potatoes, rolls and vegetables.

They also have 32 Angel Trees spread across town. The trees have Christmas gift wishes on the branches and community members can pick a tag and purchase that gift for a local child in need.

The deadline for applications for the dinner and Angel Tree recipients is Friday, Dec. 13 by 4 p.m.

For more information, call 907-745-7079 to sign up or come in between 12 and 4 p.m. at the main office, located at 12271 East Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Palmer.

Volunteers ring for two hour shifts six days a week and do not ring on Sundays. To sign up as a bell ringer or make a donation, visit mat-suvalley.salvationarmy.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com