Goodfellows

From Gabby:
I read your input about Monica you mentioned getting charity boxes of clothes. That reminded me of the free (I think) salvation army shoes we used to get once a year round Christmas time (I think).
I remember Ma would take us all on a bus to somewhere downtown (I think). I was about 6 or 7 years old. I don't remember Marcel or Bernie being there but maybe
they were (there may have been an age limit). I remember the shoe place was a very very large room with a very high ceiling (about 15 feet high) and huge round columns rising to the ceiling. It was crowded and noisy. It seemed to me to be controlled chaos. The shoes were not very stylish but they were very well made and sturdy. I never got a choice of styles, If they fit I had to take them. Then we were good
till next year. Being older than me maybe you or Monica remember this better than I and can fill in more of the details and put it on your Blog.

From Monica:
Those shoes came from a certificate in the Christmas boxes brought to our house from The Good fellows. Berni & Marcel were too old, but the 4 of us each got a big, long cardboard box from the Good fellows. The girls box always had a doll, some underwear, and I donÂ’t know what else, but always the certificate to go downtown and get some shoes. We all rode the streetcar with Ma (I think that was our only outing once a year with Ma by herself). I hated those clunky brown shoes, but they did last until the next year.

From Marcel:
We got shoes from the Goodfellows, a Christmas Charity. There was an age limit and that is why Bernie and I did not go when you went. When Bernie and I went it was probably to the same place, with the same confusion and disorganization. I was struck by all the blacks that were there, each time we went. The Goodfellows were good at raising money and distributing Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. Their motto was "No kid without a Christmas". I think our family owes something to the Goodfellows for the charity they gave us when we were younger.

From Paulette:
The Goodfellows and the Salvation Army are two charities that I never minded donating to. They were both a part of our lives. Those goodfellow christmas boxes were very exciting when I was very young. You can bet we never would have gotten dolls like that every year otherwise. In later years I remember going to the Rotunda and seeing all the dolls on display. The goodfellows used to pass out dolls to women in large workplaces and these women would dress the dolls and give them back to be distributed to poor little girls (us). They may still do that. I also remember a year when Mama and Mrs. Gervais dressed dolls for us. Mine was dressed in green, and the other two were yellow and purple. I don't remember who got which.

Oh the shoes. I don't know what "styles" Gabby is talking about in boy shoes. Those all looked alike to me anyways. But the girls. When all my friends were wearing Mary Janes and loafers, we had "nun" shoes.

I remember when Rita graduated in age from getting a doll as her special treat into getting a book. I felt very sorry for her but maybe she was of an age to like the book better. I don't know what Gabby got in lieu of a doll or a book but there must have been a "boy" treat for kids his age.

Weren't the Goodfellows the "Old Newsboys". Don't they still sell special edition newspapers on streetcorners to raise money to make sure there is "No child without a Christmas"?