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Holiday Fund Drive is underway!

The 2004 Goodfellows fund drive provided holiday meals to nearly 1,500 families, and raised more than $300,000 to help families in crisis year round.

Join your community in supporting this critical program! Every penny donated goes to those in need.

During the course of this year's Holiday Fund Drive, the names of those who make a donation will be published in the newspaper, except for those who wish to remain anonymous. The Holiday Fund Drive runs Thanksgiving week through January 1, 2006. After that, donations continue to be accepted year round.

To donate online, click here.

Donations may be mailed to:
World-Herald Goodfellows, World-Herald Square,
Omaha, NE 68102.

To contact Goodfellows, call (402) 444-1388.

Thank you for helping to Keep Hope Alive!

Because of you, Goodfellows is able to provide holiday meals, clothing, eyeglasses and emergency assistance to those less fortunate, year round. To download an informational brochure, click here.

Need Emergency Assistance?

Goodfellows' emergency fund is designed to assist people with one-time, urgent needs that cannot be met through other sources. Goodfellows works with five agencies that screen applicants for the emergency assistance program.

To apply for assistance, please call:
Catholic Charities (South Omaha residents), 731-5413

Heartland Family Service (Sarpy and Cass County), 291-6065

Heartland Family Service (Douglas County), 451-6244

Together, Inc., 345-8047

United Way, 2-1-1

Goodfellows in History

The Omaha World-Herald's charitable involvement dates back to the 1890s, when the generosity of readers helped area farmers overcome bad crops and widespread unemployment. The "Tow Line," as it was known, became a symbol the newspaper used to stir public opinion and build support for a charity or an issue.

In 1910, The World-Herald renamed its charity Goodfellows. The program began as an effort to match 750 needy children with families who promised to provide them with a decent Christmas. In 1945, World-Herald Goodfellows Charities, Inc. was chartered as a nonprofit charitable corporation.

Today, the charity provides assistance to thousands of families each year. Goodfellows has raised and distributed over 8.4 million since 1945. With The World-Herald paying all administrative costs, every dollar donated to Goodfellows goes directly to disadvantaged families.

Goodfellows assistance is diverse. First, year-round emergency funds are available to families with one-time urgent needs that cannot be met by any other public or private assistance. This is done in partnership with the United Way of the Midlands, Together Inc., Heartland Family Services and Catholic Charities. Second, holiday meals are provided to nearly 2,000 families referred by area social service agencies. Thirdly, in partnership with Holy Family Door Ministry and Omaha Public Schools (Project Help), Goodfellows provides funds for clothing, shoes and coats for thousands of underprivileged children. Finally, working with Prevent Blindness Nebraska, Goodfellows provides funds to purchase eyeglasses for the homeless. Your donation will help to keep hope alive for thousands of people. Thank you.