K of C Community Program Overview

As Knights of Columbus, we are called to serve our family and our God.  Our first principle is Charity, at home with our families and in our communities.  This is a critical part of our Knights of Columbus mission.  Have you ever wondered, “How can I make my community better?”  Individuals can do great things on their own, but there is something bigger than self when Knights of Columbus members come together as one through their council and accomplish great things. Councils that conduct our programs are positively shaping their communities by addressing the needs of its citizens.  

Some of the community assistance programs sponsored and promoted by our Supreme Knights of Columbus are listed below:

• Coats for Kids – provide warmth for deserving children during cold winter months.
• Global Wheelchair Mission – Changing the lives of people with disabilities worldwide.  The Knights of Columbus has partnered with the American Wheelchair Mission and Canadian Wheelchair Foundation, which falls under the umbrella of the Global Wheelchair Mission, to obtain wheelchairs at a deeply discounted price.  These wheelchairs help provide aid to those who lack the freedom of mobility in our communities.  
• Habitat for Humanity – Knights of Columbus councils work closely with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit Christian organization, to build homes for families in need at substantially reduced costs.  
• Disaster Preparedness – As community leaders, Knights of Columbus will ensure that their members, families and parish communities are prepared through a campaign that promotes planning and education.
• Free Throw Championship – Since 1972, councils have sponsored the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship for boys and girls ages 9 through 14. to provide athletic outlet and encourage the values of sportsmanship and health competition.
• Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest – Encourage youth in our community to become citizens grounded in their faith through creative writing.  Open to all Catholic students (public, private, home-school or parochial schools) in grades 8 to 12 during the current school year.
• Soccer/Hockey Challenge – This program offers a great way for councils to engage i their communities with an athletic event for youth that encourages the values of sportsmanship and healthy competition.  Children demonstrate the most important skill in soccer and hockey — shooting accuracy on goal, and compete to reach the international level of competition.
• Helping Hands – This program is designed to recognize the important work many councils already do to care for the most disadvantaged members of our communities — the homeless, the addicted, the elderly who may feel isolated and abandoned, and many others.