Salvation Army Turns a Profit From a Failed Love Affair

Love can be painful -- especially during the holidays.

For one anonymous, possibly brokenhearted person, an act of generosity also could be a ritual of closure that could lead to better luck in love.

A lovelorn woman or man dropped a diamond engagement ring valued at $750 to $1,000 into one of the Salvation Army’s signature kettles outside a convenience store along with a note: “This ring did not bring me luck, but hopefully it will for someone else. Merry Christmas.”

The Salvation Army of Pennsylvania gets its share of strange donations: rare and valuable coins, worthless poker chips and even a gold tooth that was tossed into a red bucket in York. For the Salvation Army in Boyertown, however, the ring was a first.

“It was quite a surprise,” said Capt. Patty Richwine of the Boyertown unit.

“You hear about unusual things we have gotten in the pot, but nothing like this.”

The ring, which was wrapped inside a crumpled piece of a white Post-It note, was dropped into a kettle outside a Redner’s Quick Shoppe.

The note was scrawled on the back of the paper. On the front was a printed cartoon that read “Cookies Never Crumble,” a possible sign that the person is a tough cookie who is doing OK.

Diana Kirschner, a relationship expert based in Manhattan, believes the anonymous ring donation and other acts of Christmas kindness are a step in the right direction for those struggling with heartbreak.

“It’s almost that they are trying to pass along something of that love that is still there,” says Kirschner, a psychologist and author of “Opening Love’s Door: The Seven Lessons.”

“It’s very interesting this time of year. It’s more of a purging. When you make a decision like that, you are making a internal decision that love does really exist in the future. They are not thrusting themselves into despair, and they will probably have love in their life pretty soon.”

Lisa Lightcap, administrative director of the Boyertown Salvation Army, was sorting donations from the busy Thanksgiving weekend when she grabbed the paper.

Probably just another note, she thought. Someone with another question or another comment, which are common during the holidays.

Then she spied the ring. “We thought it was pretty sad,” Lightcap said.

Richwine reported it to police, who told her it was now property of the Salvation Army.

The ring, which has been appraised by a jeweler, is a modest band: 14 karats with one marquise-cut 20-point diamond.

The jeweler confirmed it was an engagement ring and noted it “didn’t look very worn,” Richwine said.

“He told us we are better off selling it on EBay,” she said.

“For now we are just going to put it in our safe and decide what to do with this in the future.”