Many Catholics and especially children may be familiar with
the Knights of Columbus post-Mass Tootsie Roll fundraiser,
but they may not realize the money raised goes to programs
for the intellectually disabled in Virginia. The Knights'
commitment to helping local people with intellectual
disabilities inspired the St. Mary of Sorrows Knights of
Columbus to start
Marian Homes Inc., a nonprofit that enables
intellectually disabled people to live in group homes.
In 1998, Marian Homes opened their first house and have
opened two more homes since then. An international nonprofit
organization called CHIMES operates the group homes. This
January, the Knights began work on their fourth home, Mother
of Mercy in Fairfax. Recently some 58 Knights during the span
of three days tore out walls and flooring to prepare the
house for the five female residents set to arrive in May.
"Watching the faces of the people who can call this their
home, and watching their parents, knowing their children will
have a place they'll be able to live is worth every dime and
every second of effort we put into this," said Jim McHugh,
Grand Knight of the St. Mary of Sorrows Council.
Just as important as finding and building these homes is
involving the community in the process, said McHugh and Bill
Crowder, president of Marian Home, Inc. The Knights of
Columbus Council at St. John Neumann Church in Reston helped
with the interior demolition. St. Veronica's Council is
helping St. Mary of Sorrow s Council host a casino night
fundraiser. A construction company provided the wheelchair
ramp at one home, and a group of retired flight attendants
called Clipped Wings raised money for a fountain outside
another.
"We're trying to make this as inclusive as we can," said
Crowder.
"And when we get ready to do the landscaping, we'll have an
Eagle Scout come in," he said. "So you find a way to let
everybody be part of it and let everybody feel like they're
contributing in whatever way they can, which is, quite
frankly, what I think our faith teaches us."
Di Mauro can be reached at zdimauro@catholicherald.com or on
Twitter @zoeydimauro.