Mystery diamond ring found in Durham Salvation Army kettle
DURHAM (WTVD) -- A mystery person made a diamond donation to the Salvation Army in Durham Friday.
Demetria Stephens was manning the red kettle at the Walmart on Glenn School Road and said she had no idea that one of the many people who stopped by her kettle had dropped in the diamond ring they found Monday morning.
"I didn't know anything at all, because I really don't pay attention to what they put in the kettle. I just say Merry Christmas," said Stephens, who has been volunteering with the Salvation Army for four years.
Katherine Bellamy is the volunteer coordinator with the Salvation Army. She said the crew on Glenn School Road found the diamond when they stopped to do a count of the morning's collections.
They found two dollars crumbled up. When they opened those dollars up, they found a diamond ring wrapped inside! Bellamy said it seemed intentional because of the way the ring was wrapped.
The find was a huge surprise for workers at the Salvation Army.
"When we're doing these kettles all season long we definitely want people to make donations and just to understand they're making an impact in the community, but when something like a diamond ring falls in the kettle, it's just very exciting for us to know not only are they looking out for the community but that they want to do it in a bigger way."
The next step is to have that ring appraised to find out just how far it will go to helping those in need this holiday season.
Bellamy explained all donations to the Salvation Army in Durham directly benefit Durham, Orange, and Person counties. She also said based on their 2014 report, the Salvation Army serves more than 3,900 people in those counties. Just this year for Christmas, she said their services will provide for 1,100 to 1,200 children alone.
