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Article for
Columbia, “Adopt a Council Program”
As the two-year
anniversary of the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf States approaches
this August, many councils in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama
have not yet returned to full operation. Some councils are meeting at a
different location, while others are rebuilding but are still in need of
the fraternal, ceremonial and other items they need to operate.
“Adopt A Council,” a
new Supreme Council project, will help restore Columbianism to its
pre-hurricane levels. Supreme Treasurer John W. (Jack) O’Reilly, a past
state deputy of Louisiana, is heading up the effort. He believes the
program can be effective throughout the Gulf Coast states.
“The ‘Adopt A
Council’ program is a simple one,” explained O’Reilly. “Councils that
are rebuilding should contact the Supreme Council office with a wish
list of items needed to make them fully functional again. The Supreme
Council office will match councils in need with councils that can help.”
Grand knights whose
councils need help and those whose councils can help should call the
Supreme Council Charities Department at 800-694-5713or send an e-mail to
volunteer@kofc.org. Supreme Council office staff will match up
recipients with donors.
“The assistance and
help required can include anything from building materials to council
supplies, to volunteer time or monetary contributions,” said O’Reilly.
“Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Order has had great success in
matching up K of C volunteers with rebuilding projects in the Gulf. Our
‘Adopt A Council’ effort is the next step in our ongoing commitment to
the area.”
From September 2005
to May 2006, Knights of Columbus raised an estimated $10 million through
the Order’s Gulf States Disaster Relief Fund. Hard-hit communities and
dioceses have received these funds to help rebuild Catholic churches,
schools and hospitals. In addition, hundreds of Knights and family
members have traveled to the Gulf, and continue to do so, to help
rebuild homes and lives. |
