by Kyle Reid
Members of the Woodslee Knights of Columbus Youth Squires were busy lending a helping hand to the community last week as they hosted their 14th annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake and Sausage Dinner on Tuesday, March 5 at St. John’s Parish Hall in Woodslee.
Besides a delicious offering of pancakes, with a choice of blueberry or strawberry toppings and a side of sausages, the young Squires also offered up a generous donation to help fund local Special Olympics teams.
The Essex County Warriors and the LaSalle/Windsor Special Olympics teams were guests of honour at the pancake dinner. Both of the teams received a $500 donation from funds raised from a Squire-initiated bottle drive hosted in January, and free-will offerings from Tuesday’s dinner. There were plenty of smiles from all of the athletes, Squires, and guests in attendance as the Squires presented the athletes and Special Olympics volunteers with the cheques.
“[The Squires] were very happy,” Wayne Chauvin said, who is a member of the Woodslee Knights of Columbus who helps with the affiliated youth group. “Each one helps serve the public, so they’re geared up for that.”
And the Squires, who range from 10 to 18-years-old, are certainly used to helping out. The group lends a helping hand with Knights of Columbus projects in the community, such as Father’s Day car washes, Mother’s Day flower deliveries, and a variety of other community events that raise money for causes supported by the service group.
The pancake dinner has become one of the biggest fundraisers for the Squires. Year-after-year, Chauvin said, more money is raised through the event, and this year was no different. An estimated 175 people attended this year’s pancake dinner, raising around $1,400 in funds.
The pancake dinner, while being quite successful, is also especially looked forward to by the youth Squires, and they always eager to help.
“As soon as we start talking about the pancake dinner, they get excited,” Chauvin said.
Chauvin called both the pancake dinner and bottle drive an “overwhelming success,” and thanked everyone in the community for their support.
Next, the Squires will lend a hand as the Woodslee Knights of Columbus host a bowling tournament in April in Kingsville. The event will help to raise funds for a convention that they will attend at the end of May.