In 2009, the Knights of Columbus began a new program – Coats
for Kids – to provide new winter coats to deserving children.
It’s a cooperative effort between local councils and the
Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. Councils raise the money
and decide how many children they can provide coats to, then
order the coats through the supreme council.
According to the Knights, the program has delivered more than
150,000 coats to children throughout the United States and
Canada since its inception.
Knights from the Pope John Paul II Council at Queen of
Apostles Church in Alexandria joined the program this year,
led by Grand Knight Carroll D. Glass.
With the support of Father Leopoldo M. Vives, pastor, the
council was able to raise $2,100.
“We support the work of the Knights,” said Father Vives.
According to Glass, the council was able to buy 96 winter
coats at a cost of $1,760. He said that poor box collections
from the parish raised $385. Students and parents at Queen of
Apostles School added another $125 to the fund, with the
remainder contributed by individual Knights and members of
the council’s Casey Women’s Club. The surplus will be used
for next year’s event. The buying power of the supreme
council keeps the per-coat cost down.
Father Vives said that the coats will be distributed in
conjunction with the weekly food pantry distribution to area
residents run by the Poor Sisters of St. Joseph at the St.
Gabriel Convent under the watchful eye of Sister Delfina
Gomez. Father Vives said that the food pantry provides 80-100
bags of groceries to area residents every week, calling it “a
continuous miracle.”
The first nine coats were delivered to the Knights and
brought to the food pantry Jan. 20 by several Knights
including: Glass, Past Grand Knight Dennis Brown and Roger
Williams. Sisters Eyda Martinez and Delfina were there to
accept the coats.
Sister Eyda said that later that morning the clients would
come for their weekly food pickup and she would see how many
might need coats. The first distribution was scheduled for
Jan. 27. They’ll continue each week until all coats are
distributed. Storage space is limited at the convent, so
coats will be brought over on an as-needed basis.
Glass said they started the program a little late; most
councils aim for an Advent kickoff. He said they will be
ready for a December start.
