The Chatham Goodfellows organization is clearing up any confusion regarding its involvement in an upcoming toy and food drive in Chatham-Kent.
On Saturday, volunteers with The Gift CK will hit the streets to pick up donations off people's doorsteps across Chatham-Kent.
This marks the third year in a row that The Gift will operate. Organizers said dozens of organizations and thousands of individuals who are in need received donations from their collections in 2021.
However, on Thursday, the Chatham Goodfellows posted a message on its Facebook page in order to "clarify some questions" it has been receiving from the public.
"We are not associated with The Gift. The Chatham Goodfellows are conducting our own fundraising drives as we have for the last 68 years," read the statement. "If you wish to support us in our annual No Child Without a Christmas Campaign please donate to us directly."
The Chatham Goodfellows will hold its Porchlight Campaign on November 28. Residents are encouraged to leave their porch lights on to donate food, toys or cash. The organization's newspaper street sales will take place on December 9 and 10.
In response to the Goodfellows' statement, The Gift spokesperson Brent Wilken said that The Gift collection this year is "open to everyone as always."
"The collection belongs to the community," Wilken said in an emailed statement, "There are all kinds of systems in place to facilitate this new way. Mainly working with each organization and individual that comes to the door to help them with their choice of what they decide to take from the collection."
Additionally, a comment posted on The Gift's Facebook page in regards to where the donations go stated that "information will come out based on what’s collected and how much agencies need help. Stay tuned."
