Call me a fool, but on more than one occasion I've wrapped up an inexpensive bullion (gold/silver) coin in a dollar bill and dropped it into one of the Red-Cross/Salvation Army Kettles. Have you ever done anything similar? Take Care and God Bless Ben
Thats quite generous of you Ben. I cant say I've ever done anything close to that. The Salvation Army are the only ones around here that do the collecting outside of the department stores, but, I rarely give to them either. I do remember giving a bartender a $10 dollar tip once about 20 years ago, does that count? It was around the holidays...lol
Never have, just because it seems like it would be more of a hassel for them to find a place to get it's worth out of it than it would be just to roll up change and deposite it into the bank. The Salvation Army I suspect has little time to research the value of bullion and then locate someone who can convert that into something they need, which is cash. We donate locally by sponsoring families who can't afford to get their kids Christmas presents on their own, or provide a decent Christmas meal. To us, that seems a better way to donate time and money, and we can see the results first hand, as this is a small town where everyone knows everyone. But, to each his own. It's comendable you are thinking the right way and helping others who are less fortunate. Guy~
There're some mystery donors that put krugerrands into the Salvation Army tins. Makes the news every year.. Link
Oh, this is in addition to LOTS of Angle Tree, Homeless Shelter stuff, and regular other needy causes. Believe me the Shriners/Masons give a fair share...
old frankies and walkers that were only silver value. ag-g common dates is the closest I come to droppign in somethign valueable. I think there is enough histroy of teh mystery donors, they give a glance to the coins that are a little off in appearance. I doubt they would notice an 09-SVDB, but surely silver halves they would
The "danger" of secretly giving a precious coin to the Salvation Army is that they won't recognize it and just take it to the bank for whatever face value is. I don't know about the Salvation Army, but the Goodwill stores around here have "auctions" when you go into the store. They're special things and they have a way to bid on the items. In addition, they have an online auction system. I'd hate to drop a half into the bucket that's worth $20 and they only get 50 cents for it. Better to go in and "donate" the item. IMHO.
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/12/16/news/local/news08.txt http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/12/21/news/top/news00l.txt
Last halves I dropped were common date Frankies that I had experimented with in heat sources. They are worn so all that there is, is a faint bell outline on the reverse That is a valid danger....Maybe I will put future ones into 2X2's to prevent that lol
Can't say I've done that and most likely never will. I give what I can in real money. When the Post Office does their drives the wife and I try get "real" canned food to put by the mailbox. You know - not canned turnips etc that most people won't eat. I'll eat damn near anything but feel that those who can't afford it should have something they may actually enjoy.
No I haven't drooped any bullion coin into the donation kettle. For the last 3 years my girl friend and I have volunteered for the Salvation Army and have rung the bell in front of the mall. I always wounder if some one is putting something special in the kettle, but I'll never know. Our company asks us if we would volunteer for the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, the food drive, blood drive (the blood Mobil stops by our plant once a month for donations) the bone marrow drive and the local Jerry Lewis telethon among other things. Lou
I think that's beautiful, Ben. Things done from goodness of heart will have a good effect somehow, somewhere. We don't know the details, but we aren't in charge of results ! I personally haven't dropped numismatica into Salvation Army bins, because I'm not sure they would know what to do with it. Peace and blessings, Ricky B
Looks like the Spirit of the Season has gotten into more than a few souls here in South Dakota. http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/12/19/news/top/doc47685bec7df96762290528.txt
News Flash Was working on the computer with the local news in the background. Seems like someone put a "Lady Liberty Double Eagle" into the kettle in Waterloo, Iowa. I really missed almost all of the story, but will follow up on the 10 o'clock news. They say it is worth about $1000 - I know absolutely nothing about gold coins and am just repeating what I heard.
I make no monetary donation at all, we make donations to the foodbank thru my sauce company and I am on the hospital and institutions group of my 12 step program, we go and serve dinner and bring meetings to those that cant get to one otherwise.
Watched the news at 10 p.m. The guy/lady wrapped up a Saint-Gaudens in a bunch of dollar bills and threw it in the kettle. Seems it's a serial giver - this is the second year in a row....
They werent the first. it was commonplace in New York I believe when I lived out on the east coast as a kid. I think there have been several serial givers out there over the decades
