The president of the Windsor Goodfellows said the organization could not do the work it does without community partners like St. Clair College.
"It's because of people like you that we've been able to reach 110 years as a community service," said Windsor Goodfellows president Gilbert Barichello, as he accepted a $28,600 cheque from the college and its students from Protection, Security and Investigations/Police Foundations and Border Security.
Students collected a record $14,300 during the annual newspaper drive Nov. 28 and 29. St. Clair College matched that amount and made the donation to the Goodfellows a total of $28,600.
College President Patti France and other senior administrators took part in the newspaper drive this year. "When you combine two groups named the Goodfellows and the Saints, you know that something extremely beneficial will be the result," France said.
The students set a goal of $10,000, but the volunteers managed to surpass that amount, nearly doubling last year's contributions. "We go by the motto that life is not about getting and being. It's about giving and doing," said PSI/PF Society president Chelsea Derenoski.
The money raised by the Goodfellows will provide 3,000 needy families with Christmas baskets this year. But the Goodfellows also fund breakfast and after school meal programs in more than 20 schools throughout the city, including three high schools.
"This is what enables us to perform and give the quality of the food that we give," Barichello said.