A sign reading “17,382 friends you haven’t met, yet!” greets drivers as they make their way into Rexburg.

A local group is doing their best to make sure each of those 17,382 unknown friends have a turkey dinner and gifts under the tree come Christmas morning.

“The Goodfellows are a group of local clubs and organizations who collect and distribute meals and toys to families in need at Christmas time,” said Kelle Erickson, Goodfellows chairperson.

Goodfellows receives names of families who are in need. Submitted names are kept confidential.

“We gather the names from local clergy members and then the meals and toys are delivered by the same clergy members to the names they submitted,” Erickson said.

Goodfellows was established to help the needy in Rexburg.

“We try and help local families, who, for whatever reason, can’t make ends meet,” Erickson said.

Bob Carlson, president of the Rexburg Lions Club and Goodfellows member, agrees. “It’s one of those projects we wish we didn’t have to do, but we are happy to and know it helps a lot of people.”

Students can donate to the Goodfellows by participating in The Giving Tree sponsored by BYU-Idaho Service Activities.

The tree is located in the Manwaring Center across from the BYU-I Bookstore.

“There are candy canes with a child’s name and age hanging from the tree that students can take and buy a gift for,” said Julie Ipsen, Service Activities student director and a senior from Houston, Texas. “My apartment decided to go in together and buy a gift for a child in need.”

The Giving Tree gifts need to be taken to the MC 380 by Dec. 15 so they can be delivered to the Goodfellows in time to distribute the gifts.

Last year the Goodfellows collected enough to deliver meals and toys to between 400 and 500 families in Madison County, Erickson said.

This year they expect the need will be even greater.

“I encourage people to be generous,” Erickson said. “Think of your neighbors. That’s what it amounts to: thinking of your neighbors.”