Pocono News Section

Huge mystery donation

Huge mystery donation - Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 6:13PM EST

Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 @06:13pm EST

You could call it a donation for the ages.

Three thousand dollars stuffed into a little Salvation Army kettle.

It happened in Schuylkill county on Monday.

It was a donation Salvation Army bell ringer Andrew Hunt has never seen.

Hunt says, "i was shocked. I didn't know what to think at first."

On Monday, a man dropped 30 one hundred dollar bills into this red kettle, outside the Kmart here at the Schuylkill Mall.

The 3 thousand dollar donation surprised many shoppers.

One shopper said, “Oh my god! Oh that's wonderful. Hey i wish i was that rich!"

At the Pottsville Salvation Army headquarters, Captain Adam Hench is counting the money, and counting his blessings.

Hench says, "we opened it. I thought maybe 2 or 3 would be there, like we've had a couple of times. But they just kept unfolding and unrolling and it was wonderful!"

Hench said the kettle campaign was slow going until Monday's big boost.

Now Hench would like to thank the person who donated.

"i'd love to meet him, shake his hand and say thank you. Because this will go a long way," says Hench.

But the only thing we know about the kind hearted donator is his vague description.

Hunt says he was a tall older man with glasses.

We went our own search for the man....

Ed Palek of Shenandoah says, "you wouldn't be the mystery guy would you? Ha ha, no, they said it was a tall guy, and i'm not very tall. Whoever he was though, god bless him."

Hunt says he'd like to meet the man as well.

"i'd tell him thank you, god bless, and have a good holiday," says Hunt.

Until then, hunt will continue ringing the bell, and thanking people for whatever they put in his kettle.