Salvation Army finds $2,800 gold coin in Des Moines red kettle

The Salvation Army's Red Kettle program funds in parts toy drives held by the organization each holiday season.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A valuable gold coin was found in one of The Salvation Army of Des Moines' red kettles, the organization announced Thursday.

The Salvation Army's Red Kettle program partially funds toy drives held by the organization each holiday season. On Thursday, a South African Big Five Elephant gold coin was found in a red kettle from the Scheels store at Jordan Creek Town Center.

The coin is valued at about $2,800, Tamyra Harrison, the group's development coordinator, said in the release.

A son of a Scheels manager and Salvation Army board member found the coin while donations were counted for the night, Harrison said. The Salvation Army plans to have it appraised and sold, Harrison said.

The Salvation Army of Des Moines wants to raise $1.2 million this holiday season but is only 41% of its way to its goal, according to the release.

Each year the Salvation Army of Des Moines gives away toys to more than 2,000 metro children who may not have otherwise received one.

Next week, the Salvation Army will give away toys to central Iowa families in need at Valley West Mall on Dec. 18-19. Appointments through the group's Angel Tree program must be made in advance.

Toys are bought with funds raised from The Salvation Army's Red Kettle program and through donations made online and through the mail.

The Salvation army also provides addiction treatment and other services to families suffering from disasters, hunger or poverty.