Coats for Kids brings smiles to all December 10, 2024By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Knights of Columbus, Local News, News CATONSVILLE – Smiles and laughter filled St. Agnes School’s gymnasium as children in grades pre-K-8 arrived in waves to receive free winter coats and greet Archbishop William E. Lori the morning of Dec. 9. “He just loves this,” Anthony N. Salvemini, state deputy for the Maryland State Council, Knights of Columbus, said, as he watched Archbishop Lori help students with their coats. “Every year he comes out and participates.” 12924CoatsKids. Rob Van Rite, Maryland State Council Coats for Kids chairman, left, Walter Leskuski Jr., Knights activities director and Mike Mitchell, Maryland State Council co-chair of the Coats for Kids project, pose with 600 coats at St. Agnes Catholic School. (Katie V. Jones/CR Staff) Since 2009, the Knights of Columbus has provided more than a million new winter coats to children throughout the United States and Canada through its Coats for Kids project. The Maryland State Council distributed 175 coats Dec. 9 to students at St. Agnes, with other coats designated for students at The Loyola School in Baltimore, Head Start and Catholic Charities locations throughout the area. In all, the Knights distributed 720 coats locally. At St. Agnes, Archbishop Lori sprinkled holy water on the coats before they were distributed. “With gratitude for God’s boundless love and for this gift of warmth, protect those who wear them,” he prayed. “Shield them from the cold. May they know they’re not alone but surrounded by a community that cares.” Lines quickly formed at the tables as Knights of Columbus members helped students try on coats. Arms were raised, sleeves tugged and zippers zipped until the perfect fit was found. “It’s fine,” said Caleb Tamiru, a 12-year-old sixth grader as he admired his new green coat. “It’s good.” Alaya Reed, 13, was with her prayer partner, preschooler Nori, 3. “We help them during church and make sure they are quiet,” the eighth grader said, as her young charge hugged a coat the two found for her. 12924CoatsKids. The Knights of Columbus gave away 175 coats to students in grades PreK through eighth at St. Agnes Catholic School on Dec. 9. (Katie V. Jones/CR Staff) The Archdiocese of Baltimore annually designates which school will be the recipient of the coat drive, Salvemini said. Archbishop Lori is the supreme chaplain for the Knights, whose mission is to empower Catholic men to live their faith at home, in their parish, at work and in their community. There are 26,000 members in Maryland, Salvemini said. Through fundraisers, the state council purchased the coats for $6,500 from the Knights’ headquarters. Prior to the coat giveaway, the archbishop celebrated a Mass with the students as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was observed as a holy day of obligation. “Many of them are not Catholic,” Father Isaac Makovo, pastor of St. Agnes, said of the students. “We have been explaining the hierarchy. To see the archbishop preside over the Mass, they were overjoyed.” For his part, Archbishop Lori couldn’t stop smiling as he greeted students and posed for photos with them. “Coats for Kids is a really wonderful program of the Knights of Columbus,” Archbishop Lori said, afterward. “I am happy every year to be a part of it and to provide nice warm coats to so many deserving young people.” Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org. Read More Knights of Columbus St. Carlo Acutis statues unveiled in Harford County parishes Archbishop Lori, Knights of Columbus lead rosary at 126th Army-Navy game Christian persecution event focuses on human dignity in Iraq, Nigeria Knights of Columbus provide extra warmth with free winter coats Pope thanks Knights for generosity, respecting life, charity Catholic women at Knights convention urged to ‘live on tomorrow’s joy today’ Copyright © 2024 Catholic Review Media Print
