A West Texas widow's anonymous donation of a ring at a Salvation Army red kettle has prompted an effort to get the piece of jewelry that belonged to her late husband back to her.
The woman dropped the ring into a red kettle outside a supermarket in Lubbock on Monday evening.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported the woman attached a note to the ring. It read in part, "In honor of my husband who passed away seven years ago today. He was my Angel and I know he continues to watch over me and his family. He had a giving heart and would want to help however he could. This was his ring, It's not much but I hope it helps ... Merry Christmas & GOD BLESS."
Money donated to the Salvation Army is used to provide services such as shelter, rent and utility assistance and disaster services.
Justin Eatherly, a spokesman for The Salvation Army of Lubbock, said his organization is now looking for the ring's owner after a man who was moved by her story offered to pay for the ring if it could be returned to her. Eatherly said the man is remaining anonymous.
"He lost his wife a few years back and he still wears her ring around his neck daily," Eatherly said.
The ring that the woman donated at the kettle was appraised at $250.
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"It is very nice, real gold, and has a small diamond inside of it," he said.
Rings and other jewelry have been donated before -- or even fallen accidentally into the red kettles, Eatherly said. But this was the first time that one was left with a note attached to it, he said.
