With the economy creating hardships for many people this holiday season, Goodfellows Club Executive Director Sherry Baber anticipated this year’s annual Christmas fundraising campaign to help disadvantage children could be tough.
The economy has created a double whammy for the club, with it seeing more students needing assistance, while not as many people are in a position to donate.
“We are probably about $50,000 behind what I had hoped to be by close to this time,” Baber said. “We really, really do need a push. I know the economy is tough. I feel like that’s why the contributions are somewhat down.
“I was tickled (Monday) to see that we were up to $212,000, but the needs are so significant, and we spend more and more money each and every year trying to provide for more and more children. There is a real need to increase the amount per child (for clothing), but because the number of children continue to grow so significantly each year for the needs, we just don’t feel that we can increase the amount per child.”
Children needing assistance are referred to the club through schools’ Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSC). The club provides $125 to preschool and elementary students for clothing (including coats, shoes and under garments) while middle school and high school students each receive $175.
“When we’re providing clothing for about 2,200 to 2,300 to 2,400 students a year, we really know that $125, $175 doesn’t buy what it used to buy; we all know that,” Baber said. “But we are increasing our numbers so significantly each year as a whole that we don’t feel comfortable to increase that amount per child. The money is truly critically important, and it is what allows us to continue to strive to meet that need every day.”
The Goodfellows Club had also spent about $30,000 each of the past three years on emergency dental care for students.
“We do have some people that give and specifically designate that they want their money to go toward the dental program, or they want it to go toward the clothing program,” Baber said. “That’s perfect. We encourage that. We have some that will give and only want it to go students in the Catholic schools, and we honor that request. We have somebody from Evansville every year that gives and they want it specifically designated for children in the Catholic schools. So when people have a way they want to designate it, we’re more than willing to honor that, for sure.”
While the Goodfellows Club is there to make sure children are prepared for school, the club is also called on to assist children in emergency situations.
“We’ve had quite a few emergency shops since Thanksgiving,” Baber said. “We had two fires the weekend of Thanksgiving. Those kids go out and they get to spend up to $250 because they’re starting with nothing. We have emergency shops for kids that have those problems, and those continue throughout the year, unfortunately, whether it’s a fire, flood, or whatever it can be — even if social services comes in and removes a child from the home in the middle of the night and they leave with nothing.”
Baber said she believes there is a perception that Daviess County residents are generally more well off than is reality.
“When you look at the Kentucky (Department of Public Advocacy), Daviess County is looked at as a rural, more of a poor county,” Baber said. “I just feel like the economy is so bad people are doing well to pay their utility bills and put groceries on the table and feed their families. I do feel like there are a lot of families struggling.
“So we do have a lot of families that really do need support and help. Our numbers just continue to increase, so it’s very, very important that we continue to pull in the contributions that we do each year.”
While the annual Roll Call of donations puts contributions to the club in the spotlight through the holidays, Baber said donations are welcome and encouraged throughout the year.
“They can still take it to the Messenger-Inquirer anytime; I know (M-I Circulation Director) Barry Carden calls me all of the time and says, ‘I have some contributions that need to be picked up.’ So we can do that anytime through the year. They can do it directly to us, they can do it through our PayPal account. Contributions can be made anytime through the year.”
Contributions to the Goodfellows Club can be mailed to or dropped off at the Messenger-Inquirer office, 1401 Frederica St., Owensboro, Kentucky, 42301.
Donations can also be made online at goodfellowsclubofowensboro.org/donate.
Goodfellows Roll Call, December 24, 2025
Previously reported … $212,587.65
In memory of Ray and Ella Mae Peay and in honor of Joe and Mary Jane Clark by Bob and Heather … $1,000
In memory of Bob and Sandy Anderse and Allen, Mac, and Carolyn McKelvey by Dan and Karen Andersen … $500
Ebelhar Whitehead, PLLC … $500
Owensboro Board of Education Central Office … $499.29
In memory of Tommy and Vonnie Emmick by Valor Oil employees The Emmick’s … $400
Trinity High School and St. Mary of the Woods students and family … $305.58
In loving memory of Alan Englehart by Becky, Andy, and Kelly … $300
Merry Miller … $300
In memory of Jay Puckett by Paul, Charlotte, and Lee … $300
Robert and Peggy Hill … $250
Anonymous … $250
Anonymous … $200
In memory of Kenneth “Papa” Conder by Erin, Chaney, Eric, Jaden, Aynsley, and Tanner … $200
In memory of Ray and Ella Mae Peay by Mason and Karli Clark … $200
Whitesville Elementary School … $150
In memory of Teresa Rose and Jimmy Fulkerson by Jim Tony Fulkerson … $125
In memory of our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ralph, and Mr. and Mrs. W. LeRoy Hayden by Carol and Don Ralph … $100
In memory of Marcella Blythe … $100
In loving memory of Bonnie Carter, love, Mark, Terri, Robin, and Chris … $100
Chris and Stacey Joslin … $100
Virginia Berland … $50
T.D.’s Tuff Decisions, Inc … $50
Anonymous … $25
Total as of December 24, 2025 … $218,592.52