Brookline Woman Donates Diamond Cross in Salvation Army Kettle

A Brookline woman recently donated a diamond cross in a Salvation Army kettle.

The anonymous woman included a note that said she and her son moved to Brookline from Australia earlier this year. She said the community embraced her and she donated the cross to show her gratitude. The piece of jewelry is valued at about $1,500. It was dropped in a kettle at the Brookline Stop & Shop.

The woman also said she was inspired to donate the cross after seeing stories about a widow who dropped her wedding and engagement rings in a kettle in Boston to honor her late husband.

“There’s something special happening here in Boston,” said Salvation Army official Myron Smith in a statement. “We’re blessed and overwhelmed with this latest donation of a diamond-encrusted cross and it’s great to see Bostonians inspired by acts of generosity during this holiday season.”

Here’s the woman’s letter she enclosed with the cross:

“I needed to find somewhere for us, particularly my son, to be happy again. We had visited Boston several times and always loved it here.

Since relocating, people have been so warm, friendly, kind and accommodating to us, and I have been trying to think of a way to give back to the people of Boston.

Every year, for the past five years, my three sons and I arrange to do something for underprivileged people at Christmas time, but not knowing Boston well, I was unsure how I could go about it this year, until I saw a story on the news about a lady who put two rings in the Salvo’s kettle at Park Street Station, and asked that they be sold, and the money used to buy toys for children at Christmas. This inspired me, and I have enclosed this diamond cross, which is symbolic of Christmas, and ask that you sell it and use the money to help those less fortunate this Christmas, as my way of thanking the people of Boston, particularly Brookline, for welcoming us into their hearts, and allowing my son and I to be happy again.

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas. God bless all of your tireless workers, who make such a difference every day.”

Related coverage

• Salvation Army Donations Down
• Widow’s Incredible Act of Generosity Inspires Huge Donation
• Salvation Army Bell Ringer Run Over By Car

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Photo credit: Salvation Army