Holiday gifts come in all shapes and sizes, including those that can only be described as ginormous.
The Salvation Army is celebrating one of those, after a mystery donor dropped a check for $200,000 in a Red Kettle on Saturday.
Salvation Army spokesperson Julie Borgen says the check was left in a kettle at a south metro Cub Foods store, but did not provide further details.
The $200,000 donor asked to remain anonymous.
“We were stunned and thrilled to have received such a large donation,” said Lt. Colonel Lonneal Richardson, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division. “This gift comes at a critical time for The Salvation Army.”
Borgen says kettle donations are running about 10 percent behind last year’s numbers, and while the big mystery check helps, the Salvation Army currently has raised just 50 percent of its $11.7 million goal. A winter storm forecast to hit later this week could hamper giving even more.
“This $200,000 donation gives us a much needed boost,” added Richardson. “We hope it will inspire others to give as generously as they can to help us reach our Christmas fundraising goal.”
