Local Red Kettle receives a special donation

By Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

@anabottary

Bell ringers for the Salvation Army outside the Market Basket in Raynham, given an early Christmas gift.
Sorting through donations last week, volunteers found a half carrot diamond pendant on a gold chain.
 
"There was a lot of excitement here in Raynham when they opened up that red kettle. Among the singles and the fives and the change we found this incredible precious gift that somebody gave,"says Salvation Army Massachusetts Drew Forster.
 
Drew Forster of the Massachusetts Salvation Army says the necklace was appraised at $3,800. People donating Monday, were happy to hear about the gesture.
 
"It justifies the goodness of people in the world. Most of us still have good hearts,"says one donor.
 
"It’s great to be grateful and helpful to other people,"says another.

The donor has not come forward, Instead a note was attached to the necklace. It asks for it to be auctioned off in honor of their aunt Doris, who the salvation army had helped years ago.

"For the second year in a row to have these jewelry donations coming into our red kettles, honestly it never gets old for us. It blows us away every time someone makes such a personal and sacrificial gift," says Forster.

Just one day before Raynham received its donation, a red kettle in Middleton received these wedding rings as well.

"Since last year we’ve received over 26 jewelry donations in Massachusetts alone,"adds Forster.

The trend of making jewelry donations became popular, after an anonymous widow put her engagement and wedding rings in a kettle at north station last year.
The diamond necklace from Raynham is up for bid now.

For more information you can visit their website at http://massachusetts.salvationarmy.org/

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