Dhonna Goodale Spreads Holiday Cheer to Homeless, Foster Kids in Riverhead, NY, Today

Philanthropist-actress-reality show star Dhonna Goodale is working to ensure that homeless and foster children in Riverhead and surrounding areas have a delightful Christmas. The Flanders resident and her family will be heading up a Christmas Eve shopping excursion to Kmart in Riverhead on Monday from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm, where they'll outfit approximately 20 Riverhead-area children from head to toe and purchase toys of their choice.

Goodale, who was recently seen showing off her holiday decorating talents on the TLC reality show special Four Houses: Deck the Halls, has been taking children on holiday shopping sprees and otherwise helping less fortunate young people all of her adult life.

"We were taught to serve others," said Goodale, who together with her husband Bobby Goodale is passing on the tradition by involving her own sons, Jesse , 14, and Jared, 12, in the holiday gift-giving activities. "Earlier in life I was that kid-the one who went without-and I am living proof that with perseverance you can go from welfare to philanthropy. The thought behind this activity is that when much is given, much is expected and the reason for the season is that a child was born and died for us."

Elves and Santa's helpers will assist the children, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a special appearance in advance of his big day. The children will each receive three school outfits, underwear and outerwear as well as one or two toys.

In addition to holiday gift-giving, Goodale's philanthropic works span the gamut. Through their company, Goodale Productions, they support safe houses for battered women and their children in memory of her sister, Tara L. Stevens, who was murdered in 2003 by an abusive husband. The Goodales also currently support approximately 80 college students with scholarships, book stipends and/or clothing grants. They also partner with The Ecumenical Missionaries to provide prenatal care, parenting skills and supplies to unwed mothers and aid to the children of prostitutes.

Goodale, an accomplished actress and singer, has recently returned to the stage after taking time off to raise her sons with a recent performance in a jazz play at Birdland in Manhattan, which opened to rave reviews. Earlier she was in the European tour of The Wiz, directed by George Faison, as Dorothy and appeared in the Off-Broadway production Outpost of Progress by Joseph Conrad, and as assistant director and actor in Clean Sheets Can't Soil by P.J. Gibson.

For more information on Dhonna's philanthropic work, visit http://www.goodale-productions.com.

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