Hundreds of families across Chatham-Kent won't be going hungry this holiday season, thanks to the Chatham Goodfellows.
Director of Food Packing Jessica Osborne says around 300 volunteers, including army cadets, participated in the four-hour food packing session at the Spirit and Life Centre in Chatham.
"There are 1,542 boxes going out to families today," said Osborne. "It's nice to know residents are going to have a Christmas dinner all over Chatham-Kent."
About 650 of the boxes will be delivered to families of three people or more and 800 boxes will go to families of one or two. The smaller baskets will include a ham or a turkey roll, while the larger boxes will include a turkey.
According to Osborne, all of the money the Goodfellows campaigned for in the past month, has been used to purchase food for these families. Osborne says some of the food has also been donated.
"I have a very big family and it's nice to be able to sit down and have dinner with them," said Osborne. "It's nice knowing other families will be doing the same this on Christmas Day that I am doing with my family."
President Tim Haskell says he's noticed the numbers have gone up this year.
"We did 650 families with toys this year," said Haskell. "I noticed the numbers have gone up in different age groups and I assume that has to do with the influx of new people applying."
Scott Williston, former Chatham Goodfellows president and director of food distribution, has been helping with the event for about 50 years. He says he loves to see the community give back.
"Over 10 days, 2,000 people have come out and helped," said Williston. "It's awesome to see the community come together."
