Wedding Rings Are Being Donated To Salvation Army Donation Kettles Nationwide -- For The Fifth Time This Holiday Season Wedding Rings Have Been Dropped Into Salvation Army Kettles All Over The U.S.  --  TyingTheKnott.com Wedding News.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Article By: Phillip Brunelle

www.TyingTheKnott.com

GOFFSTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE  --  The wedding industry is known for setting trends, but a new trend this holiday season has left organizers from the Salvation Army with warmed hearts after sets of wedding rings have been turning up in donation kettles nationwide.

The latest wedding rings were discovered in a Salvation Army donation kettle that was outside of Sully's Superette in Goffstown, New Hampshire. The rings were wrapped inside a folded envelope with a handwritten note that thanked the Salvation Army for their efforts in helping people who are less fortunate, and the anonymous donor wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

Debra Urella, an organizer with the Salvation Army, said she had no idea at first what was inside the unmarked envelope. "I had to unwrap the paper and there it was, two wedding rings," Debra Urella said. "I thought it might be a coin, but not rings. For them to consider doing something like that is very special... Very special."

Rick Parkhurst has been a bell ringer outside Sully's for the past decade, and he was working the day the rings were donated. "I had no idea until my director called me and said, 'Guess what I found in your pot.' It brought tears to my eyes." said Rick Parkhurst, "We have a great community here. They're good people and are our heroes."

In the past month, much like Rick Parkhurst and Debra Urella, many other organizers and bell ringers with the Salvation Army have been left nearly speechless as wedding rings have been turning up in donation kettles all over the United States.

Earlier this week we reported on a similar story in Raleigh, North Carolina -- Article Here -- When Salvation Army organizers were counting cash donations from the red kettles, much to their surprise they too found a set of wedding rings. Once again the donor remains anonymous, but rather than a note, the wedding rings were found inside a folded ten dollar bill.

Although these wedding rings were a bit timeworn, the white gold engagement ring and diamond wrapped wedding band will be appraised in the coming days, and are expected to be valued into four figures. "It's amazing," said Salvation Army spokeswoman Haven Sink. "This is definitely a first."

There was another ring donated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina earlier this month. It was a stunning diamond engagement ring anonymously dropped into a kettle and once again wrapped in a handwritten note inside a twenty dollar bill. Although the donor remained anonymous, the note read: “This is real. In loving memory of Benny and Phyllis."

The engagement ring was donated into a red kettle outside of K&W Cafeteria and was appraised by Windsor Jewelers, who said the ring has a minimum value of $3,500. "We are grateful that someone entrusted us with something so valuable,” Salvation Army of Winston-Salem Major Kent Davis said. “We will make use of this donation to help our neighbors in need."

Just last week, an engagement ring was found in a Salvation Army donation kettle outside of a Kmart located in Miami, Florida. Miami-Dade Salvation Army Capt. Linda Payton said her office received a phone call from a woman who wanted to remain anonymous. "She said that she just left something in the kettle in front of Kmart and that it was something special," Linda Payton said.

Linda Payton personally went to the Kmart to retrieve the kettle and bring it back to the office. "Inside the kettle was a $50 bill and wrapped inside the bill was a note. The handwritten note was short, simple, abbreviated and had slightly broken English, saying: "They need more than I. Do good! A Friend."

Inside the note, Linda Payton found an engagement ring. The ring is made of gold and features two diamonds and a sapphire. It was appraised with a value of $2,000 and will be sold in an upcoming auction to convert the donation into cash for the Salvation Army.

Are you noticing the new trend yet? It doesn't end there! Earlier this month, someone dropped a 3/4-carat diamond in a kettle outside a Walmart store in Shawnee, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. That wedding ring was also appraised for $2,000.

Overall, the Salvation Army has told TyingTheKnott.com that their donations in most areas are barely breaking even when compared to last years total donations. Most cities have not even come close to raising enough money, but some areas have done very well.

While we are nearing the end of this years holiday season, you may still catch a glimpse of a shivering bell ringer alongside a red kettle for the Salvation Army. Whether you are fortunate enough as others have been to donate wedding rings, or even a dollar or two, just pause for a moment during your last-minute shopping panic to stop and think of other people who are not among the rest of the shoppers running past you into the stores.

There's truly not a better feeling than the gratification you get knowing you helped out a family who was unable to be out shopping as you are. We're not saying this to put you on a guilt-trip, we are just hoping that you'll celebrate the true meaning of this holiday by helping others to have an opportunity to celebrate too. Happy Holidays From TyingTheKnott.com and Best Wishes In The New Year, 2012.

Please Help Us To Spread Some Holiday Cheer, Inspiration and Hope For Those In Need This Holiday Season By Commenting or Sharing This Story On Facebook and Twitter. You Can Comment Below or Use The Blue Toolbar At The Bottom of This Page To Share This Inspirational Holiday Story On Facebook and Twitter. Thank You So Much, and Again... Happy Holidays!

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