The annual Leamington-Mersea Goodfellows Christmas Hamper program got its usual boost from students of Leamington District Secondary School on Friday, December 12 as they canvassed the town for food and cash donations.
Goodfellows President Bill Slater says that 192 local pre-registered families will receive Christmas Hampers this year, thanks to the efforts of the students and dozens more volunteers.
As has happened for more than 40 years now, LDSS students divide into two teams to tackle the task of collecting throughout Leamington. This year, the Bean Boyz team ran away with the trophy for most collected, besting the RDC team by quite a bit.
Cash donations are multiplied to match the amount of can/dry goods and the Bean Boyz came out with a 13,722 can total to RDC’s 4,861.
Adult volunteers waited at the Westmoreland Sales warehouse for the goods to come in and sorted them into bins ready for packing on Tuesday, December 16.
About 21 of the over 100 students then returned to the warehouse to help fill the hampers alongside Goodfellows volunteers on Tuesday morning.
The hampers will be delivered by yet another army of volunteers on Saturday, December 20.
Goodfellows President Bill Slater sorts a basket of canned goods on Friday, December 12.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
On Tuesday, December 16, the hampers were filled. From left are Goodfellows volunteer Judy Newman, student volunteer Brandy Ribble and Goodfellows President Bill Slater.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
