As many headed out to shop on the day after Thanksgiving, the Knights of Columbus in the Middletown Deanery distributed new winter coats to those in need at St. Sebastian’s Hall. The upper Middlesex councils have joined other councils in Connecticut and North America to give children in need a free and much-needed gift as the Knights distributed new winter coats at nine sites throughout Connecticut.
The Coats for Kids distributions were held throughout the state as part of an initiative that began in Bridgeport during Thanksgiving weekend in 2012. Last winter, Knights gave almost 5,000 coats in Connecticut and more than 100,000 coats across North America.
About Coats for Kids
The goal of the Coats for Kids program is to ensure that children in need across North America have a warm, winter coat. Through the dedication of councils across the United States and Canada, hundreds of thousands of new winter coats have been distributed to children since the program’s inception.
About the Knights of Columbus
In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, then a young parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into one of the world’s leading international charitable organizations, with 2 million members in more than 16,000 local councils. During the past year, Knights around the world donated more than 48 million service hours and $154 million for worthy causes in their communities. The Knights of Columbus also offers extensive life insurance products to members and their families and currently has more than $124 billion of life insurance policies in force. In addition, the Knights provides investment services in accord with Catholic social teaching through Knights of Columbus Asset Advisers, which holds nearly $25 billion in assets under management. Based on the founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the order remains committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes and to practicing faith in action through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit kofc.org/join.
About the Connecticut Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus in Connecticut is made up of 23,000 Catholic men in 175 local councils throughout the state, working with their families, parishes and communities to help those in need, strengthen families and help each other. Annually, Knights in Connecticut donate more than $1 million to worthy causes and volunteer more than 250,000 hours of service. Now more than ever there is a need for Catholic men who are dedicated to our principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.
For more information on the Connecticut State Council, go to ctstatecouncil.org. Catholic men can join the K of C at
www.kofc.org/joinus.