Goodfellows recognize corporate citizen supporters and volunteers

It takes a lot of people to make sure there is "No Child Without a Christmas" in Chatham-Kent.

And the Chatham Goodfellows are recognizing a few of their dedicated supporters and volunteers who have helped them make sure that happens.

The Goodfellows held their 70th Annual General Dinner meeting Thursday evening, handing out several awards of appreciation.

This year's President's Award went to Brad and Heather Erickson of Portable Storage, which has been helping the Chatham Goodfellows since 2016 by providing them with two storage containers at no cost to the organization.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to the longest-serving active Goodfellow, Ron White.

The Goodfellows said White was the recipient of the President of the Chatham Goodfellows in 1968 and 1969, so he has been supporting the annual campaign for more than 50 years.

The Chatham Goodfellows' 2024 Lifetime Achievement award is handed out to Ron White. (From left: Fred Osmon, Ron White, Chatham Goodfellows President Craig Williston, Sherry White)

And this year's Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow are Sean and Tanya Wilkins.

The Goodfellows said Sean Wilkins has been involved with the Goodfellows since he was five years old, joining his father when he was younger. He started by helping to pack and deliver toys and food baskets and continued coming out to help out with the Goodfellows every year after that. His girlfriend Tanya, who is now his wife, has also been helping out with the packing and delivery over the years -- and the couple even brings their three children along to help out every year, too.

The Goodfellows also recognized several people with certificates of appreciation, including: Chris and Amy Bell, Kendall and Lucas Stoffyn, Robert Francis, FreeHelpCK, Matt Sikora, Craig Walker, Mark Woodrow, Bob and Charlene Cowlan, the Leach Family, and Jolene Medenblik.

The Goodfellows would also like to clarify that they are not participating in or receiving anything from a collection happening on November 30 in the Chatham area.

Next up for the Goodfellows is their Porchlight fundraising campaign on December 2, followed by the Street Sales on Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14.

Applications for support from the Goodfellows are currently open. The phone lines are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at 519 354 1146 until the end of their office hours on November 29.

The Goodfellows are set to deliver the toys on December 17 and they will be packing and delivering the food hampers on December 18.