Sunday, November 23, 1997
Goodfellows hope to surpass goal
By JERRY DANIEL REED / Abilene Reporter-News
Goodfellows will strive to stretch the Christmas spirit even
farther this year than last, chairman Steve Ellinger vows.
More children are on Goodfellows' list for this Christmas,
Ellinger explained. And despite the generosity of Goodfellows'
supplier, Kmart, toy prices have gone up, too.
All things considered, Goodfellows urgently needs not merely
to reach, but to surpass, its $50,000 goal, said the Abilene architect.
"There's always a lot of children in town that their parents
-- due to circumstances that were often beyond their control --
are not going to be able to provide with a Christmas ... that
(they) deserve," he said.
"(We) want to do what we can, with the help of the community
of Abilene to provide a Christmas for these kids.
"And of course the whole point of Christmas is sharing
and giving, and part of what that involves helping those who can't
necessarily help themselves," he said.
Coordinated by the Noon Exchange Club, the annual Goodfellows
campaign seeks to raise money to provide toys, food and clothing
for hundreds of underprivileged children.
Toys have already been purchased with the help of a deep discount
from Kmart, food can be obtained from the Food Bank of Abilene,
and warm winter clothing can be obtained from Abilene thrift stores.
"We don't do used toys," Ellinger explained. "Now
if somebody wants to give us something they have that is still
in the wrapper, we can take that. But we want to give the children
brand new toys still in the boxes."
Christmas food baskets can be picked up Dec. 8-23 at the Food
Bank of Abilene. Each will include a package of ground turkey,
cereal, beans, rice, flour, sugar and canned vegetables, said
Nancy Gibson, Food Bank executive director. Families will be issued
scrip to exchange for their food baskets.
For clothing scrip, the period for redemption is Dec. 6-Jan.
14.
Ellinger said the Goodfellows campaign is simple in philosophy,
although many people from many organizations pitch in. Coordinated
by the Noon Exchange Club, it's backed by several support organizations.
Veterans of Foreign War Post 2012 Auxiliary members dress dolls
given to girls and help families with their toy shopping, the
Abilene Founders Lions Club helps with operation and set-up, the
Dyess Officers Wives Club handles the food and clothing scrip,
the Junior League interviews and qualifies Goodfellows recipient
families, and Dyess airmen provide manpower for a variety of tasks.
"(Goodfellows secretary) Margaret Hollowell knows this
operation backwards and forwards, and it couldn't be done without
her, absolutely," Ellinger said.
His own top lieutenants include Bobby Miers, volunteer coordinator;
Rob Beckham, manpower coordinator; Mark Zachary, toy coordinator;
and Gary Galbraith, facility chairman.
Although the regular qualification period has passed, Ellinger
said it's not too late to seek Goodfellows' aid by calling the
Junior League office, 677-1879.
Most of Goodfellows' contributions are received through the
mail, although Pennies for Goodfellows usually raises several
thousand dollars as well. Collection jars for Goodfellows pennies
-- or nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollars, dollars -- are scattered
around town at various retail outlets. At some schools, students
also compete to see which class can round up the most pennies.
Goodfellows began decades ago with the selfless act of a semi-legendary
figure whose identity has come down through the years only as
"Mother Hubbard." After losing her own baby shortly
before one Christmas, she rose above her personal grief by choosing
to share the presents that she had lovingly collected for her
own loved one, giving them to children of the poor.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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