December 25, 2024
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Goodfellows delivers clothes to record number of children on Christmas Eve

Resident Santa proud of community’s effort: ‘This is what Christmas is about.’

By Camden Lazenby
Ryan Hannan, who gave a large crowd of Goodfellows volunteers instructions the morning of Christmas Eve, said a record number of DeKalb County children were in need of clothes in 2024.

Ryan Hannan, who gave a large crowd of Goodfellows volunteers instructions the morning of Christmas Eve, said a record number of DeKalb County children were in need of clothes in 2024. (Camden Lazenby)

SYCAMORE – The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in DeKalb County, in part thanks to the deeds done by dozens of families, friends and neighbors on Christmas Eve.

Local group Goodfellows gathered at Blumen Gardens in Sycamore Tuesday to collect and distribute gifts of clothes to more than 1,400 children throughout DeKalb County.

This year, the group saw a 27% increase in the number of children in need compared to 2023, Goodfellows told Shaw Local. Many families have incorporated Goodfellows giving as a Christmas Eve tradition.

Goodfellows president Ryan Hannan, 38, has been delivering gifts with the group since he was in elementary school. He said Tuesday he believes this was their biggest year to date.

“It’s a record breaking year,” Hannan said. “We have over 1,400 kids this year but we’ve also seen so many knew faces come for our shopping days, our wrapping days and even today. So new people are coming together to support this great cause.”

“This is what Christmas is about. Helping everybody and helping people that are less fortunate than us.”

—  Brick Van Der Snick

Hannan said he wasn’t sure why there was a significant increase in the number of children in need of clothing assistance this holiday season, but said that doesn’t change their goal.

“Regardless, we’re here to provide these kids clothing, and each year we pull it off,” Hannan said.

Brick "Santa" VanDerSnick has been dressing as the north pole's most famous resident and delivering presents as a Goodfellow for the past ten years. On Dec. 24, 2024, he said his heart was warmed to see the efforts the local community goes to in order to support those in need.

Brick "Santa" VanDerSnick has been dressing as the north pole's most famous resident and delivering presents as a Goodfellow for the past ten years. On Dec. 24, 2024, he said his heart was warmed to see the efforts the local community goes to in order to support those in need. (Camden Lazenby)

The tradition dates back to 1909, when a man published an anonymous letter in the Chicago Tribune calling for good fellows (of any gender) to volunteer to deliver presents (of any value) to underprivileged children on Christmas Eve, according to Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore.

The call to action spurred a Christmas time tradition in DeKalb County that has been robustly organized for longer than anyone involved can remember.

Goodfellow Sandy Lancaster, 67, has been involved with the group throughout her life. She said there were more volunteers than ever in 2024, which made the record number of gifts that needed to be wrapped take less time than anticipated.

“When we have an increase in the number of children we get an increase in the number of volunteers,” Lancaster said. “This community is very very giving.”

Nick Holtz passes a gift bag to his son, Benson Holtz in the car on Dec. 24, 2024, as his wife Gina Holtz and two his daughters, Fiona and Calista Holtz wait to climb into – as Gina Holtz called it – the family chariot.

Nick Holtz passes a gift bag to his son, Benson Holtz in the car on Dec. 24, 2024, as his wife Gina Holtz and two his daughters, Fiona and Calista Holtz wait to climb into – as Gina Holtz called it – the family chariot. (Camden Lazenby)

Among those new volunteers were the Holtz family.

Gina Holtz, 40, alongside her husband Nick Holtz and their children – Benson, 8; Calista, 11; and Fiona, 14 – spent their first Christmas Eve morning being Goodfellows.

Benson said it wasn’t how he’d imagined the he’d spend the morning, but the family was excited to take part in an old tradition that was new to them.

His oldest sister, Fiona said she also wasn’t exactly sure how the morning would look.

“But I’m very grateful to be a part of it,” Fiona Holtz said.

Nick Holtz, his three children Fiona, Calista and Benson Holtz and his wife Gina Holtz became Goodfellows on Dec. 24, 2024, by delivering gifts for the local charitable organization for the first time.

Nick Holtz, his three children Fiona, Calista and Benson Holtz and his wife Gina Holtz became Goodfellows on Dec. 24, 2024, by delivering gifts for the local charitable organization for the first time. (Camden Lazenby)

Gina Holtz said her family is “big on volunteering” so she was excited to find a new way for them to do just that.

“They’re no stranger to volunteering their time,” Gina Holtz said of her kids. “But this is great, to do it around the holiday season and to help out local families.”

Among the mass of volunteers were a handful of people dressed as a jolly bearded man who appeared in DeKalb County a little early on Christmas Eve.

Brick Van Der Snick was one of at least two people dressed as Santa who delivered Christmas gifts as a Goodfellow on Christmas Eve. That’s also a tradition. He said he’s delivered gifts as Santa for the past decade.

“This is what Christmas is about,” Van Der Snick said. “Helping everybody and helping people that are less fortunate than us.”

He said it means everything to him to see a record crowd of volunteers giving their time as Goodfellows on Christmas Eve.

“It’s heartwarming and it’s wonderful that the community is coming to deliver the gifts to those that are not as fortunate,” Van Der Snick said.

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