COMMUNITY
FAITH IN ACTION - COMMUNITY
Knights are called to serve others.
Our first principle is Charity at home with our families and in our communities. When Knights of Columbus members come together they accomplish great things.
Every community has its unique needs.
October – Tootsie Roll Drive: The Tootsie Roll Drive is Bel Air Council’s biggest community effort with 100% of the proceeds going to two organizations in Harford County: The Arc Northern Chesepeake Chapter and the Harford Center. Since 2012 we raised an average of $10,000 annually, that’s $5000 annually to each organization.
December – Field’s Christmas Party: Bel Air Council provides their hall, the food, the refreshments, and Santa arrives with presents for the members of the Field’s Organization. The Field’s Organization is made up of special needs Children who organized about 20 years ago and have grown-up together over the past two decades. Providing to special needs children of all ages provides a satisfaction that cannot be explained in words. This year we learned that a number of members are Special Olympians. These athletes were brought forward and honored for their commitment to sports and together with our Grand Knight said Grace to begin the meal.
Coats for Kids: Bel Air Council as well as Knights across the United States purchase new winter coats to be distributed to the children in need in their local communities. Every child should be provided warmth during cold winter months.
March – Community Service Dinner: Bel Air Council holds a Annual Community Service Dinner. The night typically honors four servant leaders of our Community. Servant leaders who serve because they are motivated by love and humility. Jesus is the perfect example of servant leadership as he humbled himself and became a servant of all. If you recall: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,” and “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Global Wheelchair Mission: The goal of this initiative is to provide aid to those who lack the freedom of mobility in our communities and around the world. Since 2009, the Knights of Columbus has partnered with the American Wheelchair Mission and Canadian Wheelchair Foundation, under the umbrella of the Global Wheelchair Mission. This initiative provides aid to those who lack the freedom of mobility in our communities and around the world. Mobility brings with it independence and dignity. Wheelchairs change the lives of their recipients.
Leave No Neighbor Behind: Knights see it as our duty is to lead our families, protect our parishes, and serve our communities, remembering always that where there’s a need, there’s a Knight. This Knights of Columbus program has many components. In 2020, thousands of blood drives have been canceled, resulting in a dire shortage of blood. Bel Air Council has teamed up with the American Red Cross. For the faternal year 2020 - 2021 we collected a total of 1200 units of blood. When you consider that each unit of blood can save up to three lives, the number of lives potentially saved is 3,600 – and we are not done yet! We can be proud of our council’s contribution to our community.
