The Chatham Goodfellows are once again working to ensure no child goes without a Christmas.
The organization held its annual general meeting and awards ceremony Thursday night, officially kicking off the 71st annual festive campaign. Several awards were handed out. The President’s Award went to Patricia Clark and the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Janet Brunschot. JP Lemieux was named Mr. Goodfellow 2025. As well, numerous volunteer groups and individuals were recognized with certificates of appreciation.
Spokesperson Tim Haskell says registration is already underway for previous clients with new clients able to submit an application this coming Monday.
“That gives is the information that we need to put your name in, how many kids you have, if you’re a single person, call in still, if you’re a senior, whatever,” Haskell says. “It’s not just no child without a Christmas, it’s anybody that needs help.”
A number of fundraisers are being held over the next month and a half to help support this year’s program, including the Porchlight Campaign on December 1st and Street Sales on December 12th and 13th.
“We spent over $260,000 last year,” Haskell says. “That helps us buy the turkeys, buy stuff that we don’t get donated to us. Anything else that we get donated would be like toys, food that you want to donate to us directly, that’s the type of stuff we can put into our baskets right away, it saves us from having to go out and buy it.”
Toy baskets will be packed up December 8th through the 11th at the former Peavey Mart on St Clair Street with delivery slated for December 17th. Food hampers will be packed up and delivered December 18th.
More than 1,600 food hampers were delivered and 1,360 children were provided toys over the holidays as part of the 70th annual campaign last year.
Details on client registration, donations, fundraisers, and other campaign information can be found online at chathamgoodfellows.ca.
