Smile again! Another gold tooth deposited in Arizona Salvation Army donation pot

PHOENIX – The mystery of a gold tooth left in an Arizona Salvation Army Red Kettle in 2021 took a new twist this week.

Adding to the intrigue, another gold tooth was found Monday in the same thrift store donation pot in Quartzsite.

“Whoever blessed us with this creative gift, we thank them from the bottom of our hearts,” Lt. Col. Charles Fowler, commander of the Phoenix-based Southwest Division of The Salvation Army, said in a press release Thursday.

How big is second gold tooth donated to The Salvation Army?

Lee-Ann Henle, manager of The Salvation Army Quartzsite Service Center and Thrift Store, discovered the second gold tooth. She estimated its weight at 2.5 grams, with a value of about $100.

“This tooth seems denser than the one four years ago, but it brought a very similar smile to my face,” Henle said in the release.

While certainly unusual, the nugget-like donations are fitting when considering the location. Quartzsite, a La Paz County town about 18 miles east of the Arizona-California border, bills itself as the “Rock Capital of the World.”

The Salvation Army said it welcomes all types of gifts.

“In the past, Red Kettles across the country have received gold and rare coins, checks of large dollar amounts and jewelry — even a dollar bill with a diamond ring taped to it,” Fowler said. “We are grateful that people recognize there are many things of value that can be used to help people in need.”

The Salvation Army seeks volunteer bell ringers

The Salvation Army said 83% percent of donated funds go directly toward its programs and services.

The Christian nonprofit organization is currently seeking volunteer bell ringers for its annual Red Kettle fundraising campaign, which starts next month.

The charity group hopes to raise $2.3 million in Arizona during the 2025 campaign.

Related

Chew on this: Gold tooth left in Arizona Salvation Army Red KettleSNAP resources and helpful information in Arizona for those in needSt. Mary’s Food Bank preparing for wave of 900,000 Arizonans who might lose SNAP benefitsMaryvale High School stabbing suspect reportedly has been offered a plea dealPedestrian dead after getting hit by vehicle in PhoenixPhoenix stabbing victim hospitalized in critical condition, suspect detained