Goodfellows resume Christmas baskets and can drive

LEAMINGTON — After the annual can drive and Christmas Hamper program was cancelled last year, the Leamington-Mersea Goodfellows are moving forward with their plans for this year’s charitable event.

The annual Leamington District Secondary School can drive will take place on the morning of Friday,

December 10 with students going door-to-door within the municipality. If you’d like to donate cans to the cause, please have your items ready at the door on that morning.

As in the past, the can drive has turned into a competition between the boys and the girls, with the winners getting bragging rights for a whole year.

The Goodfellows will then sort the collected food and distribute to the needy on Saturday, December 18.

The Goodlfellows are still looking for volunteers for the basket program.

Volunteers must be adults who are fully vaccinated and can wear a mask while working with other volunteers.

If you’d like to volunteer, please call 226-782- 8334.

In 2020, the Goodfellows were forced to pivot as the COVID-19 cases started to rise dramatically. They cancelled the Christmas Basket program and gave all those needy families who applied a grocery gift card. They gave out about 200 gift cards to families in 2020.

Now with 2021 appearing to be a little less frightening Covid-wise, the Goodfellows are poised to continue their basket program, which will see each recipient family get a turkey along with canned goods and produce.

There are still two days left to apply for this year’s Christmas Basket program.

You can stop in at the Leamington Municipal Building on Thursday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 30 from 1 to 4 pm and apply in person.

About 15 companies and businesses have donated goods for the baskets.

The Goodfellows are also looking for cash donations. You can drop off cash in their designated box at the Leamington Post Office or mail a cheque to Leamington Goodfellows, P.O. Box 242, Leamington, Ontario N8H 2P6.