The Salvation Army said the donation made Saturday at the Cub Foods on CR 42, just east of Shannon Parkway, is the largest — many times over — that has ever been slipped into the charity’s signature red kettles in the Twin Cities area.

The previous record for a single kettle donation was $25,000. A little perspective: Typically, a kettle takes in about $30 an hour, according to the charity.

The charity confirmed the check cleared Monday but would not reveal the couple’s identity. “We have been in touch with the donors, but they want to remain anonymous,” Salvation Army spokeswoman Julie Borgen said. “This couple has supported the Army before with large checks in kettles, but never anything close to this level.”

Borgen said the bell ringers at the store, Rosemount firefighters, were oblivious to the big gift. But the Salvation Army’s major-gifts manager was notified of the incoming gift a day or two in advance, she said, and picked up the kettle himself. The couple have given advance notice for their previous gifts as well, Borgen said, though she didn’t know how many years they’d given.

Source: Star Tribune