OVERLAND PARK, Kansas (KCTV) – Employees of a popular thrift store in Overland Park were surprised Wednesday morning when someone donated a piece of military equipment to them.

The Overland Park Police Department’s bomb disposal unit was called to the scene at Blessings Abound Thrift near Metcalf Avenue and West 103rd Street around noon.

When police arrived on the scene, they found that someone had donated an artillery shell from 1907.

“They did the right thing by contacting the police,” said John Lacey of the OPPD.

The store manager cleared the back of the store but did not close the entire store while police, the FBI and ATF investigated whether the grenade was live.

“It’s probably one of the most unusual things,” said Mike Thomas, CEO of Blessings Abound Thrift.

Thomas said an employee was sorting donations when he discovered the bowl. After checking to see what it was, he called management, who immediately called the police.

“I think the first reaction of most people in the store was that it was an heirloom, some kind of decorative item, and we get tons of them donated all the time,” Thomas said.

Emergency responders were able to determine that the line was down and unsafe and said such calls were not uncommon.

“We usually get calls like this about three times a month. People are cleaning out their grandfather’s barn or something like that and see something suspicious. It could be any kind of explosive device,” Lacey explained.

When asked who donated the military equipment, Thomas said they usually keep track of their donors or recognize them, but this time they did not know who dropped it off and that it was hidden in a pile of donations.

“In this case, it was part of a larger donation and we identified it for the first time when we unpacked it.”

Overland Park police said they are in possession of the artillery shell and remain under investigation.

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