Kane County Salvation Army finds second gold coin worth $2K in donation kettle

For the second time this holiday season, volunteers at the Salvation Army Tri-Cities Corps have found a gold coin among their donations in Kane County.

Volunteers on Dec. 18 found a South African Krugerrand in the kettle at the Jewel-Osco on Kirk Road in St. Charles. The second coin was donated Dec. 16.

The first gold coin, a $50 Gold American Eagle coin, was found Dec. 2 and was donated to the kettle outside the Starbucks in downtown Geneva.

Both coins are thought to be worth at least $2,000 each.

Salvation Army Resource Development Director Steven Hawkins said this is the second year in a row that two gold coins have been found. They were found in the same donation kettle locations, he said.

Hawkins said gold coins have become a great tradition and when volunteers find one it always brings morale up.

“We always joke around and tell volunteers to keep an eye out for it and they all joke that they’ll be the one to find it,” Hawkins said. “It’s strange how excited people get when it actually happens. They’re just thrilled.”

Hawkins said they plan to get the coins appraised and sold. The proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army food pantry.

Hawkins said it is hard to say if they will reach their collection goal of $195,000, but they are happy with how much they have received.

“We appreciate it so much that they think of us and the good work that we do when they make their donations and they’re a part of that – helping their own community,” Hawkins said, “ It’s really important. It’s a wonderful thing.”

The Salvation Army has a large food pantry in St. Charles, which Hawkins said has been difficult to maintain in recent years. In 2022, the pantry served 6,200 people. So far this year, the food pantry has served more than 10,000 people and Hawkins said the gold coins, along with the other donations, will help supplement the pantry with items to keep up with demand.