Making Spirits Bright

As the holidays approach, one thing Farmington can always count on is neighbors helping neighbors. Every year, the Farmington Area Goodfellows works to make sure no child or senior in our community goes without a little holiday cheer.

Though their warehouse is only open for a few weeks, the Goodfellows’ impact lasts all year. With the help of volunteers, they provide food, toys, and essentials to more than 400 local children, families, and seniors. They also continue to collect donations year-round for the Neighborhood House food pantry.

This season, the warehouse opens the Monday after Thanksgiving, with volunteers gathering non-perishable food, diapers, books, and toys. Cash gifts help purchase grocery and department store gift cards. Then, on December 20, volunteers will deliver boxes of donations—and a little extra holiday joy—to hundreds of neighbors in need. (Visit the Goodfellows website if you’d like to help!)

Want to join in the fun? Head downtown during Farmington’s “Holly Days” celebration on December 6! The Farmington Civic Theater will host a Goodfellows Movie Day from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., featuring The Polar Express at 10:30 a.m. and Elf on a Shelf (a 26-minute short) with showtimes at 10:15, 11:00, and 12:00. Admission is free with a donation of non-perishable food, a new unwrapped toy, or a cash contribution.

If you can’t stay for the movie, you can still drop off your donation and grab a snack—50% of all concession sales that morning will go directly to the Goodfellows. You’ll also find Goodfellows and Toys for Tots collecting donations in Riley Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with GLP Financial.

At Wright Beamer, we’re proud to support organizations that make our community stronger. If you’re able, consider how you can lend a hand to the Farmington Area Goodfellows this season. The deadline for assistance applications is November 25. Every bit of help makes a difference.