Salvation Army finds gold coin in Normal red kettle

Posted on December 12, 2016
Salvation Army Mini Kettle
The local Salvation Army needs more than $100,000 to reach its 2016 goal by Christmas Eve. (WJBC file photo)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – A gold coin has been found in one of the local Salvation Army red kettles.

The one-ounce Gold Kangaroo coin was found in a red kettle at Schnuck’s in Normal on Saturday. The agency says the coin has an estimated value of $1,200.

The local Salvation Army reports the red kettle drive has collected more than $136,000 toward the $240,000 goal. The agency says an anonymous donor will match up to $10,000 of all kettle donations this Friday.

The overall “Make a Difference” campaign has raised just over half of its goal of $490,000. The campaign ends Christmas Eve.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…