(La Porte County, IN) - So far, no gold has been reported in Salvation Army kettles in La Porte and Michigan City this Christmas season.

 

Gold coins dropped in Salvation Army kettles by anonymous donors in the annual fundraising campaign is a long tradition across the nation. Locally, however, a gold coin finding its way into a kettle doesn’t happen every year.   

 

Major Charles Pinkston from the Salvation Army branch in La Porte is still hopeful this season will bring some gold.  

 

“We haven’t seen any gold yet this year, but we look every day,” he said.

 

In the meantime, Pinkston said there have been other unusual finds in the kettles this year including foreign coins, one half of a one-dollar bill, and keys.

 

“That’s about the extent of our finds this year,” he said.

 

The goal for the kettle drive in La Porte this year is $85,000. 

 

In 2014, a set of gold teeth turned up in a kettle in La Porte, from which the Salvation Army received about $150 for the precious metal therein.