WOW! 217 boxes (13,000 lbs) of food and $6100. Please read their media release below! We are SO GRATEFUL for all their hard work and everyone that participated in it’s success! THANK YOU!!!!
The Knights of Columbus Our Lady Of Beauraing Council #1412 from Blessed Sacrament Parish, Chatham Catholic Family of Parishes conducted a “MEGASIZED FOOD AND FUNDRAISER” at our local FOOD BASICS, Chatham and THE REAL CANADIAN SUPERSTORE, Chatham locations simultaneously on Sept 14, 15 and 16, greeting the shoppers of both stores with “Shopping List” of the needs of our Local Food Bank from 8am through to 5pm each day.
Our Fall 2023 Food & Fundraiser Co-Program Directors for Council #1412 were Sir Knight John Koppes, Warden – Council #1412 and Sir Knight Steve Brent, Past Grand Knight – Council #1412, both showing great leadership and organization of this Fall’s “Faith In Action” Initiative. Council #1412 Knight Volunteers were joined by 4th Degree Assembly, Father James Assembly #867. This year’s fundraiser saw our Knights being also greatly supported by our Community Partner, Chatham Kent Community Living (https://www.clc-k.ca/), The Salvation Army Church Staff & Congregation Members and, Student Volunteers from Ursuline College Chatham. All three days this year had our Volunteers work 3 (three) hour shifts beginning at 8am and ending at 5pm at each store. Also our Community Partner Nicole Shaw, Community and Family Services Manager from The Salvation Army at 19 Raleigh Street supported the drive throughout the three days with tireless effort of moving filled boxes by either the Salvation Army truck, or panel van, to greatly aid the Knight’s food drive component.
Thanks to the generosity of Chatham-Kent shoppers at FOOD BASICS, Chatham and THE REAL CANADIAN SUPERSTORE, Chatham a total of 217 banana boxes were filled to the brim weighing out in excess of 13,000 pounds of food purchases from both stores. This was accomplished by our Volunteers providing a Knight’s welcome to shoppers and handing them a CURRENT NEEDS FOOD LIST from The Salvation Army Chatham Kent Ministries FOOD BANK. We received many compliments that list provided great direction so that the shoppers could ensure the greatest impact to help out our local FOOD BANK! We are so grateful for the continuing generosity of the people of our Chatham Kent Communities to provide for the needy of our community, what a blessing this MEGASIZED FOOD & FUNDRAISER was for the Council #1412’s charity of choice, The Salvation Army Chatham Kent Ministries FOOD BANK.
Shoppers experience at both stores were that they greeted by the family Salvation Army RED KETTLE to allow those that could, to donate cash, gift cards and personal cheques to help the FOOD BANK cause we were supporting. Over the two days, from both stores, the donations this drive totalled an amazing $6,100. On Friday Sept 22nd, The Knights of Council #1412 presented The Salvation Army Chatham Kent Ministries FOOD BANK, represented by Nicole Shaw, Community and Family Services Manager, FOOD BASICS and SUPERSTORE GIFT CARDS from each Store in the amount raised at each. Thank you everyone that Volunteered and contributed so greatly to this Spring’s “Faith In Action” SUPERSIZED FOOD AND FUNDRAISER. We urge our Communities of Chatham-Kent to continue their support of The Salvation Army Chatham Kent Ministries FOOD BANK as the need is great and funds and food are in constant need.
The history of our Council’s “Faith In Action” community engagement initial began with Sir Knight John Koppes as the FOUNDER of our Council 1412’s FOOD AND FUNDRAISERS initiative. Our Inaugural FOOD AND FUNDRAISERS was at FOOD BASICS on April 23rd and 24th, 2022 $1,466.06 and 35 banana boxes (2,000 pounds) and then again at FOOD BASICS on Sept 16th and 17th,, 2022 raising $2,603.00 and 65 banana boxes (3,700 pounds). Spring 2023 saw 10,000 pounds of food from both grocery stores and over $4,300 in donations to the Food Bank. All of the Council 1412’s food drive events have benefited our local The Salvation Army Chatham Kent Ministries’ FOOD BANK (https://www.cksalvationarmy.org/), as they serve over 900 marginalized families each month.
