The Christmas season celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, so it is no wonder why the merry holiday is inspiring more and more people to do good deeds and spread love and kindness.

Just recently, an anonymous couple brought cheer to the Salvation Army after they dropped off a $500,000 cheque into a red kettle just outside a Cub Foods in suburban Minneapolis. According to Fox News, they made the donation on Saturday. Salvation Army officials in Minnesota and North Dakota were overwhelmed upon receiving their generous donation.

Spokeswoman Annette Bauer revealed that this was the biggest single donation they received in the Minneapolis area and probably in the two states as well, describing it as "an astonishing gift."

Salvation Army Northern Division spokeswoman Julie Borgen told NBC News that each of the 575 kettle locations across the Twin Cities metro area averages about $30 in donations per hour.

The donation made by the couple easily surpassed the previous highest single-donation record of $25,000, she said. When they tried reaching the couple who made the donation, they insisted on remaining anonymous and explained that it was their way of giving back to the community and as a way of honouring one of their fathers who served in World War I who always had a soft spot for Salvation Army "Doughnut Lassies" who brought soldiers free coffee and treats.

The couple also recalled that they used to rely on discarded food from a local grocery store when they were still young. Now that their situation in life has improved, they wanted to help others who struggle like them before.

"You get to a point in life where it's time to take care of others, the way you were taken care of," they said in a statement as relayed by the Salvation Army.

Borgen said they were "just completely floored" by the amount of the donation as well as the couple's inspiring story. Their initial goal of raising $11.6 million from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 now seems like a real possibility.