Forget silver coins — Treasure Valley secret Santa drops gold in donation kettle

Amid the dollar bills, checks and silver coins at the bottom of one Salvation Army donation kettle, officials at the Caldwell Corps of the organization found a glimmer of Christmas gold.

According to a Salvation Army press release, Major Robyn Bridgeo uncovered a 1-ounce brick of gold in a kettle that was outside a Walmart in Ontario, Ore. The gold bar, just a bit bigger than a domino and heavy as a small padlock, is worth about $1,250.

It’s not entirely unheard-of. The Salvation Army said people drop gold coins and jewelry in the containers, among other things.

“I’ve seen a lot of strange things dropped in the kettle over the years, but this is awesome,” Bridgeo said in the release. “This generous gift is a true reflection of the hearts of the people here in the Treasure Valley.”

It wasn’t clear who put the brick in the kettle on Monday. Officials said it was marked, stamped and inside a protective case.

“The Salvation Army will secure the gold and get it appraised by a professional,” the release said.

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 10:27 AM with the headline "Forget silver coins — Treasure Valley secret Santa drops gold in donation kettle."