Anonymous donor brightens red kettle campaign

An anonymous donor put a  gold coin worth an estimated $1,400 into a Salvation Army worker's red kettle in northern Michigan.

The Associated Press reports:

Maj. Craig Stoker of the Salvation Army in Alpena tells The Alpena News that he received a call about 9 a.m. Saturday from a man who said he wanted to give something special to bell ringer Jackalyn Skiba. Stoker said the man declined to disclose the nature of the gift or why he had singled Skiba out... the money will be put into the Christmas fund, which to date has collected $129,000. This year's goal was $159,000.

The coin is reportedly in good condition.