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Salvation Army's 'Saint Grand' strikes red kettle againNov 28, 2012 (Pioneer Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Salvation Army has been paid another visit from their secret Santa. On Monday, Nov. 26, someone left $1,000 cash in the red kettle at the Byerly's in Roseville. Affectionately nicknamed "Saint Grand" by the organization, the anonymous donor left 10 $100 bills in a tightly wadded bundle. The donation is believed to be the third left by Saint Grand this year. The first was discovered on Nov. 17. In 2011, Saint Grand made 23 anonymous donations to the Salvation Army, according to Salvation Army spokeswoman Annette Bauer. "Saint Grand strikes all over. He or she has never visited the same location twice," Bauer said. The donations have been found as close as Rosedale Mall and as far as International Falls. "We could be seeing copycats or maybe it was the same person travelling. We just don't know," Bauer said. On Saturday, Nov. 24, one month before Christmas, an anonymous note was left for the Salvation Army in one of their kettles, but without a donation. The note said that on Christmas Eve its writer would leave 10 $10,000 gifts. "The note could be from the true Saint Grand or from a copycat taking a cue from Saint Grand. Maybe it's a joke. We'll find out on Dec. 24 if its true," Bauer said. Christmas Eve is the last day bell ringers and red kettles are out. The Salvation Army typically raises about $20 million across Minnesota each year. With less than a month to go, volunteers are hoping to spot the secret Santa in the act of giving. "We have one volunteer who thinks he's got Saint Grand figured out. He's dying for Saint Grand to leave one of his mysterious donations in his kettle," Bauer added. "For now, Saint Grand is a mystery." Rachael Krause can be reached at 651-228-5583. Follow her online at twitter.com/RachaelKrause1. TO HELP To volunteer or to donate to the Salvation Army, call 651-746-3519 or go online to salvationarmynorth.org. ___ (c)2012 the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) Visit the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) at www.twincities.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |