The Knights of Columbus welcomed to its August meeting representatives from organizations serving the greater Essex County area to present them with donation checks. Those organizations included The ARC of Essex County; Camp Fatima; Catholic Charities; First Occupational Center of New Jersey; Goodwill Industries of New Jersey; Holy Cross Center of Learning; The Michael Fund; New Day Community; Northwest Essex Health Care Network; the School for Special Children; St. Vincent's Nursing Home; and the Vocational, Education and Special Training Program.

The Knights spent several weekends earlier this year collecting donations at supermarkets in Cedar Grove and Verona; at St. Catherine of Sienna and Our Lady of the Lake parishes; and through a mail campaign.

"One of our basic commitments in the Knights of Columbus is to help others in need," commented Grand Knight Chuck Collins. "In a program like this one, we also owe our thanks to the generosity of the community. We're gratified to know that some of the work we do will have such an immediate impact on our neighbors who need special care and attention."

The donation recipients who attended the Knights' August meeting each offered their thanks for the ongoing assistance from the Knights. For most of their organizations, they said, contributions such as this are as important to them as large-scale sponsorships or other endowments.

"Small acts of charity and kindness are equal to great deeds," one of the recipients said appreciatively.

Most of the organizations have benefitted from the Knights' special citizens' fundraiser for many years.

The annual special citizens' fundraiser is one of the programs in which all Knights of Columbus councils participate. The Knights of Columbus of Cedar Grove and Verona regularly lands among the top 10 councils in New Jersey for the amount the council collects each year.

The Knights of Columbus Father James J. Kelly Council has been serving Cedar Grove and Verona since 1953, providing volunteers, funds, and other support for various projects. The Knights of Columbus, founded in 1882, is the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization with more than 1.7 million members worldwide.

For more information, contact:
Tony Morano
973.714.2173
ammorano@optonline.net