A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
Mr. Goodfellow is back at work, providing warm winter clothes for local kids, after a hiatus over the summer.
Mr. Goodfellow was started by local newspaper publisher W.C. “Bill” Jarnagin 99 years ago to help needy local kids endure the cold Iowa winter.
After nearly a century the need remains. Last year Mr. Goodfellow spent $33,184 to buy winter coats, hats, mittens and shoes for Buena Vista County kids who lacked these necessities. Some of them are immigrants who have come unprepared for the cold in Northwest Iowa from countries where winter isn’t an issue.
Mr. Goodfellow doesn’t ask about their backgrounds. They are children who need help.
Dolores Cullen at the Times Pilot coordinates the program with staff members at schools throughout Buena Vista County. They know the kids who need help and discreetly take care of them. They buy what is needed, send us the receipts and we reimburse them. The children remain anonymous to us. Every penny that is donated goes to buy clothes. Donations are kept in a separate account from the Times Pilot and overseen by our accountant.
Last year we spent more than we received in donations, but we had enough reserves to make up the difference. Any parent who buys coats know how expensive they are and the costs mount up quickly when you’re outfitting 300 kids.
The need is great here, not just for clothes but other necessities of life. Our local food pantry distributes groceries to more than 400 families each month.
Our readers have been generous in the past. We hope you can help us out again this year. If you’d care to make a donation:
Mr. Goodfellow
Storm Lake Times Pilot
PO Box 487
Storm Lake, IA 50588
or stop by our office at 220 W. Railroad St., and Peach the Newshound will thank you personally.
We’ll also acknowledge your generosity in print, unless you prefer to remain anonymous. Thanks for your help.
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