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Salvation Army donor strikes again in Libertyville

An anonymous donor who dropped seven Swiss gold francs worth $2,400 into a Salvation Army kettle outside of a Libertyville grocery store earlier this month has struck again.

Seven more .19-ounce Swiss gold coins were found in the same kettle Monday, bound together with a note thanking the Salvation Army for the work it does as well as praising a Daily Herald article detailing the gold coin donations.

The author of the note wrote “we were uplifted” by the “recent article as well as your impressive photo.” Inside the bundle were the coins with a current estimated value of $2,350.

“Enclosed is a second identical donation to assist you in your godly care of our neediest brothers and sisters,” the author wrote to Salvation Army Waukegan Corps Capt. Heather Holman. Like the previous bundle of gold coins, the note also contained biblical references to caring for the needy.

“These donations are truly a blessing to the families we serve,” Holman said. “Although Lake County has areas that are well off, the county also has large pockets of poverty and one of the highest rates of poverty in Illinois. Families are in dire need of help this Christmas and these gold coins are a wonderful gift and will go a long way to help people in need.”

In addition to the Swiss francs, gold coins also were donated in kettles in Gurnee and Round Lake. All told, 17 gold coins have been found in Waukegan Corps kettles this season and now have an estimated value of $6,930, officials said.

Eventually, the gold coins will be taken to a dealer who will auction or sell the coins. The money generated will go back to the Waukegan Corps for use locally, Holman explained.

The Salvation Army’s annual donation campaign runs through Christmas Eve with bell-ringers stationed at a variety of stores throughout the suburbs. However, online donations can be made through Jan. 31, 2012 at salarmychicago.org.

Lake County Salvation Army kettles strike gold

  Salvation Army bell ringer Manuel Pate of North Chicago rings his bell in front of Jewel in Libertyville Tuesday. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  These 10 gold coins were found in three different Salvation Army kettles earlier this month in Lake County. On Monday the anonymous donor of the seven Swiss francs, seen at the top, donated seven more in the same Libertyville kettle. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Salvation Army Waukegan Corps Capt. Heather Holman holds one of the 17 gold coins found in various Lake County kettles this winter. The coins have an estimated value of around $7,000. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  An anonymous donor dropped seven more gold coins worth $2,350 in a Salvation Army kettle at Jewel in Libertyville Monday. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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