Community Corner

Identities of Original Rare Coin Red Kettle Donors Revealed

The Ungers are thought to have sparked a trail of Red Kettle donations of rare coin and other items throughout the country.

The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta received a thought to be from a in December. Now, the identity of the couple that has been donating anonymous rare coins for the last 15 years has been revealed.

According to the Gettsyburg Times, Dick and Ruth Jean Unger, of Gettysburg, PA, have been dropping rare coins, like the one dropped in a Mableton kettle,  into Red Kettles since 1996. Over the last 15 years, they have donated $10,000 in rare coins to the organization.

They are thought to have inspired many other mystery donors throughout the country recently, including the rare Krugerrand coin from Mableton, which was wrapped in a crumpled paper with “a child is born, Jesus” scrawled on it.

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 Another rare coin valued at $1,600 found in a Green Bay, WI, Red Kettle this December, as reported by the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Reuters reported that in Miami, someone dropped a ring, which had diamonds and sapphires, into a kettle.  The ring was wrapped in a $50 bill with a note inside:

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"They need more than I. Do good! A Friend."

Dick Unger said of his favorite charity in  a Gettysburg Times report, "We've been happy to participate in their fundraising and plan to continue supporting their efforts in the future."  


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