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About 600 volunteers took to the streets beginning Thursday for the annual Goodfellows newspaper campaign.
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It is the 107th year of the annual event that contributes approximately 40 percent of the funds used each year by the organization that provides food boxes throughout the year to those in need.
This year, it has become even more critical for Goodfellows to reach its goal of $ 350,000 raised from newspaper sales as demand at the aid agency has increased due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“I know we’ve been busier than before,” said Bruce Tait, Goodfellows newspaper campaign organizer. “We have been distributing more food boxes and this year we have added lunch bags that we give to the homeless.
“Our spending (to buy food) has also increased, so that’s what this campaign helps support.”
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Volunteers will be stationed in Windsor, Tecumseh and LaSalle at various intersections asking for donations of any size in exchange for newspapers. They will be on the streets all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Volunteers will wear masks for personal health safety.
The Windsor Star has long been a partner in supporting the Goodfellows newspaper campaign.
Due to the pandemic, Goodfellows was only able to organize a modified newspaper campaign last year, to avoid personal contact between volunteers and drivers, which only generated $ 231,000.
That has made supporting this year’s newspaper campaign and achieving the $ 350,000 goal even more critical, Tait said.
“If the community can help Goodfellows this year, that would be great,” he said.
Reference-windsorstar.com