To help kick off the holiday season, students from St. Clair College are once again participating in the annual Windsor Goodfellows Newspaper Drive.
"It's a late-November morning, it's really, really cold, but it's pretty cool walking up and down the median, spreading the message," said George Fu, a first-year Protection, Security, and Investigation (PSI) student at the College.
He's one of dozens of St. Clair College students taking part in the Goodfellows Newspaper Drive - a tradition synonymous with Thanksgiving and the holiday season, where about 600 volunteers take over busy street corners, passing out special-edition Windsor Star newspapers in exchange for money.
The newspaper hawking gimmick is a time-tested, historically successful way the Goodfellows raise funds for its annual Christmas Food Box Program, which provides food boxes and vouchers for thousands of families in need throughout Windsor and Essex County, and the need is greater than ever.
According to Goodfellows representatives, demand for these boxes has increased more than 40 per cent over the past three years.
This year's goal for the campaign is to raise $375,000.
The 111-year tradition continues this year, where on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, students from the Protection, Security and Investigation, and Police Foundations programs are spreading out at the corners of Cabana and Glenwood, Cabana and Mount Royal, The Windsor Crossings Outlet Mall, and the Highway 3 entrance to St. Clair College to collect donations.
Students from the Border Services and Community and Justice Services programs are also canvassing at street corners around the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts.
"It's always good to help people. It's always good to help your community," said second-year PSI student Shaimaa Al Moussa. "It shows good character, because you know you're doing it just for people."
Fellow second-year PSI student Mackenzey Matis said the experience aligns with the values she's learning inside the classroom.
"It teaches me responsibility and to be grateful for the opportunities that I have in Canada," said Matis, noting this isn't part of the school curriculum, but a tremendous volunteer opportunity in which many students wholeheartedly elect to participate.
George Fu said many people stopped on their way into the College to donate whatever they had, whether it was a buck from their change dish, or much larger bills.
He volunteered his morning because his professors regularly instill the importance of community engagement.
"Modern policing is not only about law enforcement anymore. A big part of it is giving back to the community," said Fu. "Obviously, we do law enforcement, but helping people in distress is becoming a huge part of the job. And part of this is learning how to deal with people."
"And this is a good side of people," he added.
"We hope you consider donating to this worthy cause and as always, please drive with caution," said Peter Soulliere, a professor with the Police Foundations program.
The team of student volunteers annually strives to collect more donations than the previous year. In 2023, the student group raised $13,168.01 towards the Goodfellows' record haul of $403,000.
In the unlikely situation you don't cross paths with a Goodfellows volunteer newspaper carrier this week, you can still donate online at windsorgoodfellows.org.
