Club 'here all the time' for students
12/17/2007
Messenger-Inquirer
So far this year, the Goodfellows Club has provided 21 coats for children at Cravens Elementary School.
"And we haven't had an excessively cold early winter," said Shannon Burke, the family resource center coordinator at Cravens. "Goodfellows has served more than 50 of our kids just with clothing."
About 90 percent of Cravens' student enrollment qualifies for free and reduced lunch. Many parents are working, but their checks won't stretch far enough to pay for needed clothes and coats.
School officials work with Goodfellows and other agencies to make sure their kids have what they need to come to school each day prepared to succeed, Burke said.
"We have a clothes closet, so we do what we can, too," Burke said. "The best part about Goodfellows is that they're here all the time for the kids. ... It's not just at Christmastime."
The school also helps Goodfellows during the fundraising "soup days."
Burke said she and Janie Conkright, who operates the clothes closet, have seen numerous examples of how Goodfellows helps Cravens students.
"We have a blue million stories just about coats," she said.
In one case a few years ago, a single mother whose daughter was a third-grader at Cravens was hospitalized from diabetes complications. It was close to the school's Christmas break.
Friends and church members were taking care of the child.
"We went to Goodfellows and were able to get clothes for her, and when her mom got out of the hospital, she was so grateful," Burke said. "Ever since then, her mother brings her daughter's clothes she outgrows to the school. She wants to give back."
Burke said it's easy to see the big difference Goodfellows makes to families.
Goodfellows also provides emergency dental care for needy children.
If you would like to make a donation that will help continue the group's work, send it to Goodfellows Club, Messenger-Inquirer, Box 1480, Owensboro, KY 42302 or bring it to the newspaper office at 1401 Frederica St.
Today's Roll Call
Previously reported... $70,204.10
Anonymous... $992.54
Bobbie and Glenn Jackson... $100
Anonymous... $100
Dick and Tina Temple... $100
In loving memory of Elizabeth and
Estel by Gordon and Ruth... $50
In memory of Melinda G.
Whittaker by Mom, Mike, Tony
and Cherie... $50
Additional Goodfellows
Community Wide Soup Day for
Kids... $30
In memory of Brandon Evans by
Jim and Sheila Evans... $25
In memory of Cliff Dant by
Benjamin Sexton... $15
In memory of Rudy Sandefur by
Benjamin Sexton... $15
In memory of Shannon Peterson
by Benjamin Sexton... $15
Double Breasted Nut Hatchers
Evans Breakfast Club)... $10
In loving memory of Charles Guy
Aud, Mildred Aud Schooler,
Charles J. Schooler, Atha Aud,
Zelma Aud and Mabel King by
Shane and Kecia Aud... $10
Anonymous... $7
Total as of Dec. 17... $71,723.64
