By
Ed Pierce
Real
generosity exists and the Windham Knights of Columbus have witnessed it in
person.
Over
the course of the past seven years, the Knights of Columbus have hosted the
popular “Claws for a Cause” Lobster Dinner each October to assist in raising
money for the Windham Food Pantry and through that event, the Knights have
collected and donated on average about $2,500 to the food pantry since its
inception.
But
because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Knights of Columbus had to scrub this
year’s annual fundraiser when the need for financial assistance for the food
pantry was greater than ever.
In
late October, the Knights of Columbus appealed to the public to step up and
help out by contributing voluntary tax-deductible donations to the organization
so that they would be able to offer some help to the food pantry.
According to Dave Spada, District
Deputy and Maine Regional Training Director for the Maine State Council of the
Knights of Columbus, the help they so desperately sought did indeed arrive.
Spada said that more than
100 people from throughout the Lakes Region made donations to the effort.
“The
Knights had an initial goal of $2,500 and we kick-started the goal with a
donation of $1,000,” he said.
Because
of the significant donations coming in from the public, in November the Knights
of Columbus were able to present the Windham Food Pantry with a check in the
amount of $4,350, the largest private donation ever received by the food pantry
to date.
“The
donation enables families in need to receive food throughout the holiday season,”
Spada said. We are humbled by the response from the community and we thank you
for your support.
The
Windham Knights of Columbus is an organization of Catholic men who lead, serve,
protect and defend in the community. They share a desire to be better husbands,
fathers, sons, neighbors, and role models and to put charity and community
first.
The
Knights of Columbus organization was founded in 1882 in Connecticut as a
fraternal benefit society and remains true to its founding principles of
charity, unity, and fraternity to this very day.
They
remain committed to rendering mutual aid and assistance to the sick, disabled
and needy members of the community and to promote intellectual fellowship
through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and
public relief work.
Windham’s
Knights of Columbus chapter at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church is one of more
than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members throughout America, Canada, the
Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the
Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.
The
Windham Food Pantry, 8 School Road, Windham, is open year-round to Windham
residents with proof of residency. It provides food monthly to Windham
residents in need of assistance.
For more information about the Windham
Food Pantry, call 207-892-1907.<
