The Belle River/Rochester Goodfellows organization will be out in full force across the town this month, spreading annual holiday cheer through its newspaper drive.
Goodfellow volunteers will take to the streets of Lakeshore on Friday, November 14th, followed by the annual banquet on Saturday, November 15. Funds raised will help cover the costs of providing Christmas meals to local families in need during the holiday season and support the Lakeshore community throughout the year.
The organization has been actively involved in its local charity efforts for over 60 years. President Rick Anderson states that they have improved the way food boxes are distributed since the pandemic.
“Gone are the days of can collection and filling boxes at the St. Simon and St. Jude Hall. While local schools are involved, they have switched to ‘Toonie collection’ in the classrooms—which allows for the purchase of gift cards for families in need,” said Anderson.
Call-in applications are now being accepted starting Nov. 17th and run until December 5th. Box pick-up is scheduled for Saturday, December 20. The pre-approval process is now conducted over the phone.
Please call Rick Anderson at 226-345-6686 or Tom Tellier at 519-728-1315 to apply for this year’s assistance program.
“Those selected for assistance will be asked to meet Goodfellow administration at the Good Neighbour Club in Belle River on Friday, Dec 12, from 5 until 8, and on Saturday, Dec 13, from 10 a.m. until noon, when we distribute vouchers containing gift cards. This allows parents to go out and get their own gifts for their kids,” said Anderson.
The voucher is kept, and this allows the family to pick up their food box at the Your Independent Grocers (Rymerson’s) on Saturday, December 20, starting at 9 a.m. until noon at the drive-through location behind the supermarket.
The Lakeshore firefighters will be selling Toonie burgers on Saturday, Nov. 22, from noon until 2 p.m. at the Belle River Legion. The Knights of Columbus fundraiser takes place at Simon St. Jude Hall on Sunday Nov. 30, from noon until 5 p.m.
The Belle River Lions Club has donated over 150 Christmas cakes this year, and this year’s Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Tailgate Party fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, November 27, at the Belle River Legion starting at 1 p.m., with all proceeds going to Belle River/Rochester Goodfellows.
“Thanks to Cole Rymerson and his crew at the grocery store, the boxes are packed on site and then loaded into the family vehicle,” added Anderson. “It works out so much better for us… it’s way more efficient,” said Anderson.
The church staff at St. Simon & St. Jude Church put up the giving tree in November, so that parishioners can pick a tag off the tree and purchase the appropriate gift card. These gift cards are then distributed to needy families in the area.
“We still have the area’s back, things are just done a little differently today,” said Anderson.
To apply for this year’s assistance program call Rick Anderson at 226-345-6686 or Tom Tellier at 519-728-1315.
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