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Coats for Kids comes to Cache Creek

The campaign by the Knights of Columbus distributed free winter jackets for children.
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The Knights of Columbus were in Cache Creek this past weekend to distribute free Coats for Kids. Photo: Barbara Roden.

Representatives from the Knights of Columbus for the BC and Yukon State Council and the Knights of District #10 (which includes many of the communities in our region) were in Cache Creek on November 26, to distribute free winter coats to children.

The “Coats for Kids” program, which started in the northern United States, provides warm winter coats for children whose families might not otherwise be able to afford them. Mike Jones, the District #10 Deputy, says that the coats were given here “in the spirit of charity and unity with our fellow British Columbians who were hit so hard this past summer.

“Any time there’s a disaster there’s always a need,” he says. “This area was so hard hit by the wildfires, so it was a great area for us to do this.”

The jackets—in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and colours—were funded by the State Council, and on November 26 close to two dozen were given to local children. Jones says the campaign is one of several that the Knights of Columbus carry out; another is a partnership with the Canadian Wheelchair Foundation to supply wheelchairs to children in third world countries—and here at home—who cannot afford them.

There are also poster contests for youth sports, substance abuse, and other subjects which are open to youth aged eight to 14. “The entries are judged at the District level, and then the top entries are sent to the State level,” says Jones. “Winners for the State are picked, and sent to the Supreme Council in New Haven, Connecticut for final judging.”

Jones says that District #10, which is based in Kamloops, is also partnering with Christmas Amalgamated in that community to provide 50 Christmas hampers to local families. Blankets were also available at the “Coats for Kids” event in Cache Creek, and some of the blankets will be added to the hampers.

The Knights of Columbus, founded in 1882, is the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Originally serving as a mutual benefit society for working class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, it developed into a fraternal benefit society dedicated to providing charitable services, including war and disaster relief. For more information about the BC and Yukon State Council and what it offers, go to http://kofcbc.org/.



editorial@accjournal.ca

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