By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
The Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Goodfellows “No Child Without a Christmas” campaigns will look different this year, shifting donation collections online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Usually, police officers, firefighters, elected officials, high school honor clubs, volunteers, community members and business owners go out in full force collecting donations for the newspaper sales on busy intersections to raise thousands.
In Dearborn, a virtual drive is planned where donations can be made via Venmo — @Dearborn-Goodfellows — and Cash App — $DearbornGoodfellows. To donation through PayPal go to www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1936875.
Checks can be made out to Dearborn Goodfellows, c/o Park Place Catering, 23400 Park Ave., Dearborn, MI, 48124.
Through a partnership with the Dearborn Police and Fire departments, along with the Dearborn Police Officers Charities and the Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive, the Dearborn Goodfellows will be collecting donations to fulfill their motto of “No Child Without a Christmas.”
Donations be made at the Dearborn Police Department lobby, 16099 Michigan Ave.; Fire Station 1, 3750 Greenfield; and Fire Station 2, 19800 W. Outer Drive.
A letter from Dearborn Goodfellows President George Darany said that instead of packing toys and gifts, gift cards will be delivered to hundreds of families and children.
“We know that this comes as an enormous disappointment to those who have always come out and supported the Goodfellows,” Darany said. “However, right now the most important thing all of us can do is to focus our attention on staying healthy. We also ask all of you to do even more this year to help support the Goodfellows.”
Dearborn Heights is planning to do the same with a virtual donation collection through checks or PayPal.
Donations to the Heights Goodfellows can be made by check to: Dearborn Heights Goodfellows, P.O. Box 261, Dearborn Heights, MI, 48127. To donate via PayPal, use [email protected] and select the “sending to a friend” option.
Both cities are planning to have all-digital Goodfellows’ newspapers after Thanksgiving.
Every year the Goodfellows select families in need through their respective school districts or by word of mouth to ensure children between the ages of 2 and 11 have gifts for Christmas.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])