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Hundreds of local families in need will have a traditional holiday feast this year thanks to the generosity of one local company.
On Friday morning, the Windsor Goodfellows distributed 200 turkeys and Christmas fixings donated by Mikhail Holdings, a family-owned company in Windsor.
A long line of people braved freezing temperatures and flurries to pick up the festive offerings, which included boxes of stuffing, bags of potatoes, and canned corn. Small children helped their parents carry off bags of goods, while some slow-moving seniors stowed away the food in baskets attached to their walkers.
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Recipients were required to pre-register. Each person who received a turkey was a regular visitor to the Goodfellows foodbank and required to provide proof of income — evidence that they live in poverty, said Goodfellows board member Joe Bachmeier.
“We’re happy that Mikhail Holdings has chosen us, and it’s looking pretty good,” Bachmeier said, noting how quickly the line was moving. “Everybody’s happy. We’re hearing a lot of Merry Christmases.”
In 2023, the Mikhail family ended a 19-year tradition of hosting Christmas dinner giveaways.
Over the last two decades, Mikhail Holdings has donated meals to more than 9,700 families.
The Windsor Goodfellows, which also serves people in LaSalle and Tecumseh, has seen a 45- to 50-per cent increase in demand for its foodbank this year, Bachmeier said.
“We’re seeing a lot of new faces this year. We’re getting a lot of immigrants that have been here for more than a year. We’re also getting a lot of long-time Canadians coming through.”
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