This secret Santa has a heart of gold.
An anonymous donor dropped three solid gold Mexican pesos — worth a total of $3,600 — in one of the Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles Friday outside a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This isn’t the first time the nonprofit received the gift of gold, Alyse Gossman, director of development for the Salvation Army of Broward County, tells South Florida’s Sun-Sentinel.
The benevolent benefactor is believed to have made similarly lucrative kettle drops in Broward over the past five years, Gossman says. In 2017, three were found. The year before that — five.
Each came in one at a time, but volunteers believe the donations were all from the same person — because each gold coin was wrapped neatly in a dollar bill.
“In prior years, the coins came earlier in the month,” says Gossman. “This time around, when they didn’t come in, we just thought maybe something happened to the donor.”
Then came Saturday morning’s surprise windfall.
“We’d like to thank the anonymous donor or donors who are keeping this new charitable tradition close to their heart,” says Gossman.
The funds raised through red kettle donations are used to fund local food, shelter and social service programs.
“Thank U in JESUS name AMEN AMEN AMEN THANK U,” one grateful Fort Lauderdale resident posted on the Salvation Army of Broward County’s Facebook page.


