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Knights of Columbus’ Coats for Kids Program

By Sarah Shurge n't come to the event, they are able to
As we enter the winter season go to Amanda Dybus’ office and pick
and the cold weather approaches, up their coats.
many people’s first thought goes to Dybus is the Director of the Fam-
the holidays. What decorations will ily Resource Center. She has been
be put up? What meals will be eaten? doing a lot of behind the scenes
What gifts will be received? What sea- work to find children in need of
sonal activities will be participated coats in the community.
in? “There were just a lot of little de-
For others however, their first tails that helped make this all come
thought is a bit different. How can I together,” said Albrecht.
keep my child warm during the cold If you would like to get involved
winter months? Knights of Columbus Notre Dame Council members Eric Pohl, John Albrecht and Paul and donate to the Coats for Kids pro-
Coats for Kids is a program with gram, you still have a chance be-
one specific purpose: when families Law hold up some of the coats for kids on distribution day. cause no formal cut-off has been
struggle to clothe their children with strayed away from it for a few years. then began taking online donations made.
warm coats in the winter, Knights of He returned and joined the Notre and in-house donations. The Knights of Columbus are al-
Columbus councils help meet this Dame Council after Christmas in The Knights put a box on the ways preparing for their next event,
basic need. 2020. countertop for cash contributions. which is coming up. Saturday, De-
According to the Knights of During the summer of 2021, Once someone donated, they could cember 18th, will be their annual
Columbus website, since the pro- Sposite asked Albrecht to take the pick a blue or pink construction- Christmas Celebration. Tickets are
gram began in 2009, nearly 500,000 lead and chair the Coats for Kids paper-child and write their name on $20 which includes a buffet dinner,
coats have been distributed in 49 project. Albrecht accepted the re- it and tape it on the wall, so people cash bar, and door prizes. DJ Justin
states and all 10 Canadian sponsibility and kicked-off the proj- can see who contributed to the cause. will attend. For more information
provinces. ect in mid-August. The Knights had a Distribution about the Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus may “When we started this project, we Event on Tuesday, November 30th. Notre Dame Council or upcoming
have been doing this program since weren't sure where we’d end up,” Hot dogs, chips and pop were pro- events, visit notredamehall.com or
2009, but this is the first year the said Albrecht, Council Advocate. “I vided for the children that came to find them on Facebook at Knights of
Knights of Columbus Notre Dame figured to shoot big, so we set pick up coats. For families that did- Columbus 3021 Notre Dame.
Council 3021 has participated. $6,000 as our goal. We ended up
“We’ve been wanting to do this for raising a total of $7,032 in cash and
years,” said Paul Sposite, Grand coats.”
Knight of the Notre Dame Council. The Knights of Columbus Notre
“It's a way for us to give back to the Dame Council collected a total of
community in a meaningful way and 324 coats for children in need.
help the kids in a way that really “I am so humbled by the support
means the most.” we got. I thought our goal was too
Sposite had a passion for the lofty, but once the community came
project but was looking for the right together to support our cause, I was
man for the job. John Albrecht was overwhelmed. It was tremendous,”
the man he picked. said Albrecht.
Albrecht has been involved with After Albrecht set a fundraising
the Knights of Columbus since he goal in August, he opened a Go-
was younger, as his father was also a FundMe page and began advertising
Knight. His father ended up retiring it on the Knights’ Facebook and so-
from the council and Albrecht cial media to boost it. The council

6 · December 2021 · The Wayne Dispatch