The Chatham Goodfellows are honouring some of their key volunteers and supporters as they kick off their 63rd annual Christmas Campaign.
The group with a goal of “No Child Without A Christmas” met Wednesday night for its annual general meeting.
During that time, the Goodfellows highlighted several key contributors including the Williston family, who received the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Goodfellows recognized the efforts of Mary and Phil Williston in particular, who started their work with the annual campaign back in 1959 when Phil invited Mary to a Scout hut in Chatham to paint a red wagon so that it could be delivered to a child at Christmas.
Their children, Cynthia, Scott, and Craig are also carrying on their legacy. Cynthia no longer lives in Chatham-Kent, but her brothers Scott and Craig are both active members of the Goodfellows -- Scott received the Mr. Goodfellow award in 2015 and helps to manage food packing and delivery while Craig was named Mr. Goodfellow in 2011 and now manages the Porchlight Campaign.
Long-time volunteer Connie Mardling was also honoured at Thursday night's meeting -- she's the 2017 Ms. Goodfellow.
Mardling has been volunteering with the Chatham Goodfellows since she was a "youngster" working on the porchilight campaign and has continued to serve the group by helping with street sales and food delivery.
While the Goodfellows recognize that Mardling does "not seek the limelight," they also believe it is important to express their gratitude to her for the work and support she has provided them over the past 25 years.
The final honouree for 2017 is the Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS), which was given this year's President's Award.
With the award, RCSS is being recognized as a key contributor to the annual campaign for well over 20 years, working with the Goodfellows to "secure competitive food prices, coordinate orders and delivery of perishable and non-perishable food."
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Key Dates For The Chatham Goodfellows:
· Goodfellows office at the Spirit and Life Centre Wellington Street West Chatham is open November 6th; Monday – Friday; 9am to 3pm at 519-354-1146.
· Last day for names, December 1, 2017.
· Merlin Legion dinner December 2, 2017. The Merlin Legion and Chatham Goodfellows are longtime partners.
· Porchlight is on Monday, December 4, 2017 at Spirit and Life Centre.
· Toy Packing 6pm to 8pm December 11 to December 14, 2017 at 463 St. Clair Street (the former Fabricland building next to Dimitar’s). Delivery date is Tuesday, December 18, after 5:30pm.
· Street Sales are being conducted on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16.
· Food packing is at Spirit and Life Centre (St. Joseph Site), packing/delivery on Tuesday December 19 – packing beginning at 8am – deliveries beginning at 12pm.
