Goodfellows Begin 2012 Christmas Drive

Every year, the Kearney County Goodfellows offer assistance and gifts to area communities.
Through generous donations, the Goodfellows have helped local residents by providing gift baskets of ham, vegetables, dressing, and pumpkin pie during the Christmas season as well as arrange for other special needs throughout the year as they arise. They also work in part with the Mid-Nebraska Community Services to accommodate citizens who require help paying their bills.
The group, which Goodfellows committee chairman Gary Smidt says is “a service project to help people out in times of need in order to get them back on their feet and get them going,” has benefited Kearney County for several decades, originally starting in conjunction with the regional Lions Clubs.
Last year alone, a total of fifty-nine different families and individuals received gift baskets, and $5,256 was donated to Goodfellows in order to make this possible.
Goodfellows also gratefully accepts help with packing the gift baskets, which will take place the afternoon of December 14.
Those who are interested in volunteering or donating are encouraged to contact Gary Smidt by phone at (308) 830-2246, and all donations to the Kearney County Goodfellows will be published weekly in the Minden Courier, along with the donors’ names.