The Goodfellows’ Christmas party is one of Henderson’s oldest holiday traditions, and local organizers hope this year’s event brings as much joy to local children as it always has.
To do that, the Goodfellows are hoping to raise $35,000 which will go to provide toys, clothes, cake, ice cream and entertainment at the party at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17.
Richard Pendergraft, who organizes much of the event, said the traditional kickoff date is Thanksgiving. He said the checks start to flow in about that time.
But much of his, and brother Larry’s, work occurs year-round. The two brothers continually look for best deals so that they can buy the most for the least.
Richard said he’s built a connection to a rep at Fruit of the Loom who calls him when they have a good deal on T-shirts. Buying them from the warehouse, Pendergraft said, he can get 200-300 shirts, a purchase which could come any time during the year.
His brother has a connection to J.C. Penney, and he’s able to find deals on toys, shirts and pants.
All of what they purchase and all that’s donated is placed on tables at South Middle School the day before the party. Volunteers come the day before the party and place the goods in sacks for each child. This is called “Sack Day.” This year it’s 8 a.m. till they’re finished sacking on Saturday, Dec. 16, Pendergraft said.
Pendergraft said there are about nine Goodfellows, so they couldn’t pull this off every year without help. He wants to get the word out, asking for volunteers for both Sack Days and the party.
And of course, money helps, too. He said every year the Goodfellows receive checks from near and far, sometimes as far away as New York, California, Georgia and Texas.
Some checkwriters, he said, “we don’t even know what connection that have with Henderson Goodfellows.”
The Goodfellows gather children’s names from schools and other outside organizations and then create an invitation that they send back to the child through his or her school. They send along a self-addressed stamped envelope to return an RSVP so that they can get a count of children who will attend.
Pendergraft said the Goodfellows first Christmas party dates back to 1948 when five leaders in the community picked children to attend. It’s grown and changed since. Pendergraft’s first Goodfellows Christmas party was in 1966. Larry has been helping with the party for the past 20 years, Pendergraft said.
Pendergraft said that Saturday and Sunday, whirlwind days of activity, involves so many people helping, and many he doesn’t know.
“We never know who’s going to show,” he said. “But they always show up.”
Send checks to Henderson Goodfellows, PO Box 1711, Henderson, KY 42419. Or you can drop a check at the city building bill payment area.For more information or to volunteer, call Pendergraft at 270-860-7780.
