The president of Chatham Goodfellows wishes he was out of a job, but the reality is the demand for the help from the organization is on the rise.
Scott Williston, who is in his fourth year as president of the group, said hundreds of volunteers packed 1,370 boxes of food for Chatham families Thursday morning at St. Joseph’s Hall on Wellington Street. In all, he estimated the group would pack about 1,500 boxes this year.
He said the need has increased by about 40 or 50 families this year, compared to last.
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It’s the 60th anniversary of the Chatham Goodfellows helping families by delivering toys and food at Christmas time.
To mark the occasion, Chatham Coun. Derek Robertson put forward a motion at council earlier this year to erect Goodfellow Way street signs along the roads near St. Joe’s Hall.
“The most important matter is the incredible work the Goodfellows have done over the last 60 years,” he said. “We did it (erect the signs) to celebrate the milestone.”
Robertson said he was amazed at the effort from all the volunteers at the hall on packing day.
“It was absolutely breathtaking. It was an awesome feeling seeing the amount of work being done,” he said.
Williston estimated there were about 400 volunteers on hand Thursday to pack the boxes of food. They were done the 1,370 Chatham boxes by 11 a.m., about three hours after they started.
He called the effort, “controlled chaos.
“It’s just like any production line,” he said, as the volunteers had two assembly lines going, complete with conveyor lines.
There were a fair number of teenagers helping out Thursday as well. Williston, who has been volunteering with the Goodfellows for 42 years, said it is about time to plan for the future.
“Our volunteers are getting older. We’re encouraging participation for the youth. They are going to one day replace us,” he said.
Michael Ritchie, who is in Grade 10, is a regular Goodfellow volunteer. He’s getting his mandatory 40 hours of community service in during his high school years, but said he’ll continue helping once that number is reached.
His mother, Michelle Ritchie, said the family has volunteered for several years packing toys with the Goodfellows. She and her son got their first taste of the food packing Thursday.
“They’re very organized. They have it right down to the exact number of cans of tomatoes they need,” she said.
Williston said the Chatham community continues to do amazing things.
“It’s been a great year,” he said. “The community came through huge for us this year. They really stepped up to help us out.”
He said the campaign started with “a few hiccups,” referring to the theft of $3,700 worth of toys and batteries from a trailer on Grand Avenue East in November.
“The people of Chatham have done what they always do – step up. It was amazing,” Williston said. “The outpouring of support has been magnificent.”
He said anonymous donors have showed up this year, seeking no recognition, saying, “It’s for the kids.”
And then there are the annual donors who give to Goodfellows year after year. Included in that group are the people at Union Gas. Williston said the company and employees donated more than $40,000 in toys and food this year.
Combined with Street Sales of more than $36,000 and Porchlight fundraising of $36,500, the Goodfellows have topped their magic $100,000 mark this year.
“We have a $100,000 budget. If we don’t collect that each year, the next year suffers,” Williston said. “All areas were up this year.”
Both the Ritchies said they volunteer with the Goodfellows because they want to help others.
“We find it rewarding. It is sad that there’s such a need for it, though,” she said. “Thank goodness for the Goodfellows.”
As much as there is a place for the Goodfellows, Williston wishes it were otherwise.
“As long as there’s a need, we’ll be here,” he said. “But someday, I hope to be out of a job.”
