Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Clarksville Salvation Army has received a very special holiday gift, an American 1 ounce $50 Gold Eagle coin was drooped into a red kettle Wednesday at Sam’s Club. For many years gold coins have shown up in Salvation Army kettles over the Christmas season and this is the first one to be donated this year.
On Thursday, Lieutenant Christopher Coulson with the Salvation Army took the coin to Golden Eagle Jewelry at 652 Riverside Drive and received a check for $1,225 which is the value of the coin on the current gold market. Golden Eagle Jewelry has helped the Salvation Army for many years buying the coin donations they receive.
Lieutenant Christopher Coulson with the Salvation Army talked about the coin and what all of the donations mean to the organization. “This is going to mean a lot to the Salvation Army. It’s great news considering there’s only five days left in our red kettle season. This act of kindness will jump-start our last weekend of kettle donations perfectly,” Coulson said.
The Salvation Army set a goal of $150,000 for kettle donations over the holiday season which began with bell ringing at local businesses on November 15. To date the organization has collected just over $95,000. Coulson said that donations have been down for the red kettles in Clarksville as well as across Tennessee and the nation.
John Gilreath with Golden Eagle Jewelry said he was happy to support the Salvation Army. “We’re happy to be able to help the Salvation Army so that they can help others because that’s so important this time of year,” said Gilreath. Gilreath added that the people who give coins like this, we really appreciate it because they have a big heart.
Bell ringers will be out at a number of locations around Clarksville through Christmas Eve hoping to fill the red kettles and meet the $150,000 goal. Holiday
donations to the Clarksville Salvation Army help support the Salvation Army shelter on Kraft Street and their services and programs throughout the entire year.
