Mystery Donors Drop Big Donations In Salvation Army Kettles

The Jingle of the Salvation Army bells are ringing up big bucks for the charity. Each year for the last eight, a mysterious donor would drop $1,000 in one of the red kettles. Each $100 bill is wrapped in $5 bills as a disguise.

"Over the years, we haven't been able to pin point who it is," said Salvation Army Maj. Sherman Cundiff.

However, this year the $1000 mystery donor had some company. A second mystery donor apparently upped the ante -- dropping more than $1,500 in the red kettles on three separate occasions. In all, Santa's two helpers donated close to $6,000 in their own secret way.

"He takes a $100 bill, puts a five in front of it, then he begins to fold it accordion-style," said Cundiff. "Then he slips it inside the kettle and its gone."

Cundiff said he knew he had two secret Santas when a note showed up with the first $1,500 donation.

"I'm not that giver, I'm a different giver," read Cundiff. "So there must be two of us!!!!!"

Cundiff said the mystery donors have helped the Salvation Army exceed its $60,000 goal by more than $5,000.

"They want to help somebody without any accolades," said Cundiff. "That's the spirit of Christmas -- just doing it because you want to help somebody."

This year's Kettle Campaign ended on Friday night. The Salvation Army and their volunteers plan to use some of that money to buy gifts for children in the pediatric wards at the hospitals Nash and Edgecombe counties. They plan to make the rounds on Saturday.