Daniela Berson
WMAL.com
FREDERICK — (WMAL) What started out as an act of goodwill has become a Christmas tradition in Frederick, Maryland.
Every year since 2002, an anonymous donor has dropped a golden eagle coin into a Salvation Army red kettle near one of the Frederick shopping centers.
And in the 13 years since the first instance, other generous donors have stepped forward as well.
Golden eagle coins are worth $1000 each, according to Salvation Army Lieutenant Mike Michels.
“We never know for sure. We never expect that we’re going to get any gold coins,” Michels said.
This year, they’ve recieved five of the coins.
Most of the donors have been accounted for, including a few from a Frederick jewlery store, but the identity of the original donor from 2002 is still unknown.
Michels said that all of the donations the Frederick Salvation Army recieves, from pennies to gold coins, goes back into the community.
“We had just shy of 1800 kids that we gave toys to this Christmas,” Michels said, “We gave food out to 700 families.”
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Каль Николай, Wikimedia Commons)
