Workers with the Salvation Army were counting the contents of donations to the red kettles from South Miami Tuesday when they found quite a surprise, a platinum diamond ring.
The ring didn’t contain a note and no call was received in advance of the donation, as has happened in years past. The Salvation Army said that led them to believe the donation was a copycat donor in the vein of prior surprise holiday donations to the kettle.
Just two weeks ago, the Salvation Army received a phone call tipping them off to an emerald necklace valued at $1,300 in a red kettle. The necklace had a note that said, “Keep Doing Good. God bless the Salvation Army – a friend.”
In 2010, a woman handed a gold nugget to a bell ringer that was wrapped in a note that said “This gold nugget is a family keepsake. Please use its value to help those in need with the Salvation Army – A friend.”
In 2012 someone donated $1,000 across three red kettle locations and in 2013, a diamond ring valued at $3,500 was found with a note asking the Salvation Army to “continue your good caring for the needy in God’s name.”
The platinum ring found Tuesday morning was valued at $1,500.