The Kingsville & Gosfield South Goodfellows Club is a non-profit organization which relies solely on the very generous donations from the public. They currently have 28 members. Their primary goal is to ensure that families in need in Kingsville will have a nice Christmas by providing them with food baskets. They also give toys to children who are aged 15 and under.
In 2020, they supported 145 local families by providing them with turkeys, canned goods, boxed stuffing, potatoes, apples and other food items. They also provided each family with a gift card for a local grocery store so the families can purchase milk, bread, butter and other items.
Any leftover canned goods will be donated to the Kingsville Community Food Bank.
“This will be our 54th year of helping families in Kingsville, in need of assistance during the Christmas holidays. Kingsville area includes Ruthven and Cottam. Last year we helped 145 families. We do work with the program Toys 4 Tots which is run by Lorne Bradt from Leamington,” said Goodfellows President Alex McHardy.
Goodfellows has a long history in our community. Kingsville District High School yearbooks in 1968 have photos of the students conducting good drives in support of the Kingsville Goodfellows. In 1971, the organization received their charter.
Registration for food baskets will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the month of November at Epworth United Church at 56 Division Street South. Signs will be posted on Mill Street.
Tuesdays and Thursdays schedule:
Tuesday, Nov. 9 & Thursday, Nov. 11
Tuesday, November 16 & Thursday, Nov. 18
Tuesday, November 23 & Thursday, Nov. 25
Times are 10:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Applicants must have identification of proof of residency in Kingsville. To qualify for the Toys 4 Tots program, proof of age with a birth certificate is required for children 15 and under.
Location for Epworth United Church:
56 Division Street South
Kingsville, Ontario
For more about Goodfellows see Lynn McLaughlin’s 2020 article on the Kingsville Times:
Our Community Champions: the Kingsville Goodfellows
Image by Couleur from Pixabay
Hello, my wife and I are in need of a christmas basket but have no way to come to Kingsville to register as my car insurance expired as of November 13th, im hoping i may register online, it would be greatly appreciated, please and thank you, Reny & Tina.