by Sylene Argent
Thanks to the generosity of the community, St. Mary’s Maidstone’s and Holy Name of Jesus Church’s Knights of Columbus Councils were able to donate 11 boxes of youth-sized coats to the Essex Area Food Bank and six boxes to Lakeshore’s Community Support Centre on Friday afternoon.
Each box contained a dozen coats. The donations will go a long way in keep local youth of families facing economic hardships warm this winter.
The Essex and Maidstone Knights of Columbus Councils raised the funds collectively during a pasta dinner held in September, which was hosted inside St. Mary’s Hall.
With some snow falling and a cool breeze blowing on Friday as volunteers presented the donation to Gerry Belanger, Chairperson of the Essex Area Food Bank, Maidstone Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Gord Edwards said, “A day like today explains why you need a warm winter coat.”
Tom Bonneau, Holy Name’s Knights of Columbus Grand Knight, said the donation was made possible through the generosity of the community and the commitment of the two K of C Councils.
For the past few years, Rita Monforton of LaSalle has been kind enough to make a large quantity of toques to accompany the coat donation. The St. Joseph River Canard Knights of Columbus Council sponsors Monforton with the materials she needs to make the hats.
Belanger was thrilled to accept the donation, noting several families request a coat for their children as the weather cools.