and this is what it's all about. apparently a rash of gold coins has been showing up in the red buckets again this season. i love stuff like this, don't you?

And the mystery begins. A generous donor has dropped the first Krugerrand — a one-ounce gold coin — into the Salvation Army kettle at Kmart.

“It was found in last night’s kettle,” said Sgt. Ann Bennett of The Salvation Army. “That was the same location as last year. I guess that’s where this person likes to go.”

For the past 14 years, an anonymous donor has dropped the special gold coins into the kettles. Is it more than one person? Does he or she have an endless supply of the valuable coins — worth about $1,400 apiece?

While we don’t know who is giving them, we do know that the donation means toys and food for children and families in need.

Thanks to everyone for your gifts — whether it’s 16 cents or a $1,400 coin — the donations add up to meet our goal.