Press release submitted by The Salvation Army

QUAD CITIES, USA: The first gold coin of the season was dropped in the red kettle at Bettendorf, IA's Schnucks Market. That is the first time on record that a gold coin was found on the very first day of The Salvation Army's most important fund raising activity of the year. The coin, a ¼ ounce American Gold Eagle, will be used for The Salvation Army's work in the Quad Cities.

This single coin helps to make possible The Salvation Army's life-transforming services, such as food and shelter, to people in the Quad Cities who have no where else to turn during their time of hardship.

The Red Kettle campaign runs from November 9th through December 24th and volunteer bell ringers are desperately needed. Please go to www.ringbells.org for easy sign up.

DID THE GOLD COIN TRADITION START in the Quad Cities or in Crystal Lake, IL?
Somebody beat us to Wikipedia, but here in the Quad Cities, we think it was a Quad Citian that started this tradition!

WIKIPEDIA STATES: A tradition has developed in the United States where, in some places, gold coins are anonymously inserted into the kettles in which the bell ringers collect donations. The tradition appears to have started in the Midwest when the first known drop of a gold coin was put into a kettle in Crystal Lake, Illinois in 1982.[2] Since this drop, many others have taken to dropping not only gold coins,[3] but also other bullion and rare coins, gold medals,[4] and jewelry.

The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities would like to know – does anyone remember the first time they heard about the gold coin being dropped in the kettle? If you do, please call Holly at 563-324-4808.