Chatham Goodfellows food packing event. December 19,2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent). Chatham Goodfellows food packing event. December 19,2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).
Chatham

Chatham Goodfellows Volunteers Pack Over 1,400 Boxes Of Food

A sea of volunteers came to help the Chatham Goodfellows pack over 1,400 boxes of meats, potatoes, and veggies for families in need on Tuesday.

Volunteers helping with Chatham Goodfellows food packing event. December 19, 2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent). Volunteers helping with Chatham Goodfellows food packing event. December 19, 2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).

President Tim Haskell says around 200 volunteers, including army cadets, participated in the four-hour food packing session at the Spirit and Life Centre in Chatham.

"1,420 we're packing for, but the names are still coming in. If there's a fire over Christmas or anything like that, we take care of those types of people too. Everyone gets taken care of, we don't let anyone go without their Christmas," says Haskell.

About 560 of the boxes will be delivered to families of three people or more and 860 boxes will go to families of one or two. Haskell says over 1,500 turkeys were purchased in bulk, while everything else was purchased from local grocery stores.

He says the Chatham Goodfellows want to make sure everyone Chatham-Kent can enjoy a warm meal this Christmas.

"There is a lot of need in Chatham-Kent. Even if you're working, $15 an hour doesn't cut it for everybody," says Haskell.

Scott Williston, former Chatham Goodfellows president and in charge of food distribution, has been helping with the event for about 45 years. He says he loves to see the community give back.

"A lot of these volunteers at one time were recipients. They come up and tell us their story.... they'll say 'hey I'm giving back because you helped me the year we needed it,'" says Williston.

Volunteers helping with Chatham Goodfellows food packing event. December 19, 2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent). Volunteers helping with Chatham Goodfellows food packing event. December 19, 2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).

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