​​The Exchange Club of Hanover presented the Robert J. Smith Golden Deeds Award to Andrea Niehoff Goodson (posthumously).

The club held its 71st Annual Robert J. Smith Golden Deeds Award Presentation on November 28, 2023, at a club meeting held at SpiriTrust Lutheran® - The Village at Utz Terrace. The club recognized Andrea Niehoff Goodson (posthumously). Andrea will be forever remembered as Hanover’s top community cheerleader and Santa’s best elf.  Her volunteer work with Christmas in Hanover, the Christmas Committee over the years had gone above and beyond what is normally asked of a volunteer.  Her tireless dedication to the holiday activities in the community made Hanover a destination for the Christmas season. For this reason, the first Main Street Hanover award was created to ensure a lasting legacy of volunteerism in her memory.

With Andrea’s passing on April 3, 2023, the community felt a deep loss of a champion for Hanover.  As the chair of the Hanover Christmas Committee, Andrea worked year-round to plan for the holiday season in Hanover, PA. Overseeing many special traditions that fall under the Hanover Christmas Committee’s leadership. The biggest of those being the 85-year-old Santa Cabin tradition, that provides free Santa visits from Black Friday to Christmas Eve, with a record setting 2,600 children in 2022.  From the holiday parade on Black Friday, that brings Santa to town and kicks off the holiday season in Hanover, to the last cabin shift on Christmas Eve when Santa says goodbye, Andrea and her loving husband Bryan spent their time in downtown Hanover leading efforts, ensuring the community has the magic of the holidays. 
​
Other activities she supported, included the Little Pantry at the YWCA; God’s Meal Barrel; Toys for Tots; gathering and distributing school supplies and backpacks for back-to-school season; and gathering and distributing pajamas for children.  In addition, she operated online social media pages to spread the word about great local events and local businesses supporting each other.
She was a Champion of the Hanover community and encouraged others to do the same.

​Below is a link to an Article by Harrison Jones of the Evening Sun about the award:
Exchange club award honors tireless Hanover volunteer posthumously (eveningsun.com)

THANK YOU, ANDREA FOR SHARING YOUR MANY TALENTS AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE THROUGH YOUR HARD WORK AND ACTS OF LOVE AND KINDNESS. YOU WERE A GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ARE TRULY MISSED.

​Bryan Goodson accepts the Robert J. Smith Golden Deeds Award on behalf of his late wife, Andrea.  Presenting the award are Robert Channell (l) and George Hubbard (r), members of the Award Committee.

​Robert J. Smith Golden Deeds Award

The Golden Deeds Award was renamed the Robert J. Smith Golden Deeds Award in memory of long-time club member Robert J. Smith. The Exchange Club of Hanover is currently seeking nominations for the 2024 Robert J. Smith Golden Deeds Award. Often good deeds are done behind the scenes and are unrecognized. This is your opportunity to show that special individual(s) that our community cares and appreciates their efforts. This award is given to a person or persons who have shown self-sacrifice in making a significant contribution to the quality of life in the Hanover area. The award will be presented to the recipient(s) at an Awards Banquet in late November 2024.  A permanent record of the award will be kept in the Guthrie Memorial Library, Hanover's Public Library.
​
Nominations along with a brief resume should be sent to Martha Channell, 7694 Paradise Heights, Abbottstown, PA 17301. For more information call 717-637-8790 or see the nomination request letter below for more details.