Vince R. Reyes
Special to the WCR

EDMONTON – Just in time before the onset of the chilly winter season, needy students from five elementary to junior high schools in Slave Lake are the recipients of brand new, warm, winter coats under the Coats for Kids Program of the Knights of Columbus Alberta-Northwest Territories State Council.

Last October 29^th, at the St. Peter Celestine Catholic Church hall in Slave Lake, State Deputy Gary Johnson, State Warden Vince Reyes with the assistance of their wives and several Knights of Columbus members presented 150 winter coats, which came in a variety of sizes and colors, to the school administrators, teachers, parents and students of C.J. Schurter School, E.G. Wahistrom School, Koinonia Christian School, Lakeside Outreach School, St. Mary of the Lake Catholic School and to the local Catholic church.

“Thirty four councils, assemblies and individuals donated over $19,000.00 to the State Council’s Slave Lake Disaster Relief Fund,” confirmed Johnson. He reiterated that in order to alleviate the hardships of the fire victims of the May 15^th catastrophe, the Alberta State Council is making a substantial contribution to the gift card program sponsored by the Catholic Church, spearheaded by Father Jeyapaul Packiasamy who is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Johnson added, “ Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 for the purpose of supporting our parish priests in their mission to serve their parishioners as well as their community at large and that’s why we’re here. Father Jeyapaul has been working closely with the entire inter faith community in Slave Lake to ensure that those children in need of a winter coat will have one. And, if any of the WCR readers would like more information on our  Coats for Kids Program, they can call our Knights of Columbus State Office at 1 800 656 0042”.

Supreme Director Mickey Casavant said “that nobody has asked for anything, nobody can run after the disaster but people extend their arms and open their hearts to help.” He noted that since 2009, the Knights of Columbus has distributed more than 40,000 coats to the kids throughout the United States and Canada.

The Most Reverend Gerrard Pettipas, Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan, who participated in the presentation of the coats observed that “we cannot prepare for tragedy, that when tragedy strikes, everybody is surprised.” He added that “tragedy teaches us a tremendous lesson about humanity: People care about other people, the goodness of people and people are fundamentally good.”

The Coats for Kids initiative was part of the organization’s Help a Child in Need campaign which began in 2006 with a nationwide television appeal for donations that supports the needs of the children.

To view more pictures of Coats for Kids Project, check out the Photo Section under 20111109 Coats for Kids ...