Windsor Goodfellows thanks the community after exceeding fundraising goal

Article content

The newspapers have been sold and the results are in: Windsor really supports its Goodfellows.

Article content

The long-running local charity has announced that this year’s fundraising drive, during which special edition newspapers are sold on the street to passersby, generated at least $ 366,187.

The total exceeds the campaign goal of $ 350,000 and exceeds the amounts raised in the 2020 and 2019 Windsor Goodfellows campaigns.

“The people of Windsor and Essex counties really helped us,” Jennifer Wells, the new president of Windsor Goodfellows, said Wednesday.

“We are absolutely excited and very grateful to the citizens of this community. They appeared like never before and our hearts are so full. “

According to Wells, street teams selling newspapers accounted for $ 290,212 of this year’s total, the Tecumseh Goodfellows group added $ 62,000, and St. Clair College students contributed $ 13,975.

Article content

Wells said the final total should be even higher, as St. Clair College will make a corporate donation to match the amount generated by students.

“The students were amazing. They did surveys at his school and they were out on the streets, too, “Wells said.

Last year, Windsor Goodfellows canceled its newspaper campaign due to COVID-19 concerns and instead dedicated its fundraising efforts to an online campaign.

Wells said this year’s campaign not only raised more money over three days, it did so with fewer volunteers and outlets than in previous years.

“We had a couple of teams choose not to participate this year as a precaution for their volunteers,” Wells said. “There were also some teams that had fewer volunteers than previous years, which meant fewer hours on the streets.”

Article content

Wells credited the generous spirit of Windsor-Essex residents for making the 2021 campaign so successful.

“I think the newspaper drive really means the start of the holiday giving season for a lot of people, and our absence last year was really felt,” Wells said.

“We heard a lot of comments this time that people were happy to see us, that people were looking for us. Their money was ready and they were eager to give. ”

“We were preparing for another difficult year … but this will allow our programs to run smoothly.”

Windsor Goodfellows, started in 1910, provides food, gifts, and essentials to local families in need. Outside of the Christmas season, the organization has a food bank, a free breakfast program for elementary students, and a free shoe program for children.

The charity is run by volunteers and receives little to no government funding.

To make an online donation to Windsor Goodfellows, visit www.windsorgoodfellows.org .