The Salvation Army is looking for a woman who anonymously dropped off an engagement ring and a wedding ring in one of the charity group’s iconic donation kettles — they want to return the rings to her.
Julio Delgado stands in a corridor in Boston’s North Station, reminding people with his bell ringing that it’s the time of year to put some change or a few dollars in a red Salvation Army kettle. Delgado says the Salvation Army has been a big help to him.
“One year ago, I’m homeless,” Delgado said. “Every day I go in for Salvation Army.”
He says the organization helped get him into a drug recovery home, where he now lives. So he’s giving back by ringing this bell. But it’s not going great on this day.
“Today is real slow,” he said. “Real slow. Real, real slow.”
But earlier this month, not far from this spot, another kettle took in a donation that could be considered priceless.
“The woman put in the ring that her husband give it to her,” Delgado said.
“As you can see here, we’ve got a beautiful gold wedding band,” said Lt. Michael Harper of the Cambridge Salvation Army as he drops two rings out of an envelope. “Then you’ve got this beautiful engagement ring, with a large diamond in the center and two smaller diamonds on the side.”
There was a note with the rings, that said money from their sale should be used to buy toys for needy children. Harper reads from the note.
“In all seasons, my husband was a giver,” she wrote. “I especially remember his joy at giving at Christmas time, especially to those in need. To honor his memory, I donate this ring.”
Harper says the Salvation Army staff was incredibly touched as they first read the note.
“I was almost speechless,” he said.
The note says the donor was hoping there’s someone out there “who made lots of money this year and will buy the ring for ten times what its worth.” And that’s exactly what happened. The Salvation Army spread the word about the donation, and another widow and who also wishes to stay anonymous, gave the Salvation Army $21,000.
Now, the Salvation Army wants to connect with the woman who gave the rings.
“If you’re out there, ma’am, first of all God bless you and from the bottom of our hearts thank you for this deeply generous and meaningful gift,” Harper said. “We’d love to be able to thank you in person. And the donor would like to offer you your rings back.”
Harper says the woman who gave the rings may not want to step forward and take credit for the gift. But there could also be some dishonest people who claim the ring.
“The best way to verify is to have her try the rings on,” he said. “If the ring fits, that’s a fairly good indicator. Probably not definitive. Kind of reminds you of the Cinderella story — if the glass slipper fits, you know.”
Regardless of what happens with the rings, Harper says the donation was a significant one in a holiday season that so far has seen donations down about 10 percent from last year. He’s hoping for more generosity over the next week or so before Christmas.
