Anonymous couple drops $500K cheque into Salvation Army collection bucket

A COUPLE stunned Salvation Army bellringers after quietly slipping a generous cheque into the donation bucket.

AN ANONYMOUS couple shocked the Salvation Army after slipping a $US500,000 ($693,000) cheque into one of the charity’s famous red collection buckets.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that the couple made the donation in the US state of Minnesota on Saturday.

The bellringers were oblivious to the size of the cheque, but the couple had tipped off the Salvation Army’s major gifts manager, who picked up the bucket himself.

Salvation Army spokeswoman Julie Borgen confirmed that the couple’s cheque had cleared on Monday.

“We are simply stunned and honoured to have received such a generous gift,” said Maj. Jeff Strickler, the Salvation Army’s commander in the Twin Cities.

“This is a true blessing, and it could not come at a better time for the Salvation Army and the people we serve.”

Over the weekend, a $500K check was dropped into our kettle at @cubfoods in Rosemount! #RedKettleRecord See more: https://t.co/1PZ2zayghG

— Salvation Army North (@salarmynorth) November 30, 2015

In a statement released through the charity, the couple said they hoped their donation would encourage others to give generously.

They also noted that they were inspired by memories of their own money troubles and by one of their fathers, whom they said served in WWI and had fond memories of the Salvation Army’s “doughnut girls”, who provided coffee and baked goods to weary soldiers in the trenches.

“You get to a point in life where it’s time to take care of others, the way you were taken care of,” the donors said.

Borgen told the Star-Tribune the couple had previously made sizeable donations, but nothing approaching the $US500,000 mark.

The paper reported that the Twin Cities Salvation Army chapter hoped to raise $US11.6 million during its Christmas campaign. The couple’s donation had helped boost the take so far to $US2.2 million.

This story originally appeared on Fox News.