Knights of Columbus provide extra warmth with free winter coats

OVERLEA – Excited kindergarten students at St. Michael-St. Clement School swarmed around a surprised Archbishop William E. Lori, shouting thank yous and hugging his knees before heading back to class Oct. 21. The young students, along with their fellow older classmates, each proudly wore a new winter jacket, courtesy the Knights of Columbus.

Ronald Hassan, state treasurer for the Maryland State Council of the Knights of Columbus, assists smiling first-grader Anthony, a student at St. Michael-St. Clement School in Overlea, during the group’s annual Coats for Kids outreach event Oct. 21. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“It’s a real joy,” Archbishop Lori said, between photos with students. “It meets a need, and it brings happiness. Hats off to the Knights of Columbus. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

More than a million students have received a free winter coat from the Knights of Columbus since the program began in 2009. This year, 200,000 coats were allocated to Maryland, with 525 given to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for distribution.

“This is what we do as Knights of Columbus,” said Anthony N. Salvemini, state deputy for the Maryland State Council, Knights of Columbus. “First in charity, first in faith is our mission.”

Schools typically have a student population below the poverty line and are chosen by the archbishop to be recipients, according to Rob Van Rite, Maryland State Council Coats for Kids co-chairman. While St. Michael-St. Clement School was the main recipient this year, receiving 250 coats, the remaining coats were given to students at The Loyola School and Mother Seton Academy, both in Baltimore.

Last year, more than 700 coats were distributed to students at St. Agnes School in Catonsville, The Loyola School, as well as at Head Start and Catholic Charities locations in the area.

“Just look at the excitement and anticipation,” Gregory Farno, chancellor of education for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said, as he watched coats being distributed. “The Knights of Columbus are beyond words for what they do for our community.”

All costs for the coats are covered by the Knights and coats are purchased in bulk from the Knights’ headquarters, Van Rite said. This year, new, slimmer coats with fleece-linings were purchased for close to $10,000.

“It is a very different type of coat,” Van Rite said. “We used to have big, bulky coats, but they went up in price.”

The new style choice allowed more coats to be purchased for students, Van Rite, and they are just as warm.

Archbishop William E. Lori stands with students at St. Michael-St. Clement School in Overlea Oct. 21 during the Maryland State Council of the Knights of Columbus annual Coats for Kids outreach event Oct. 21. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Annie Powers, First Lady of the Maryland Knights of Columbus, watched each of her students with a critical eye as they tried on coats, having them lift their arms and pull at their sleeves before allowing them to pass on to Archbishop Lori for a photo.

“I like making sure the coats fit,” Powers said, with satisfaction.

As supreme chaplain of the Knights, Archbishop Lori has participated in the free coat event for years.

“I think it is wonderful what he is doing, giving us all these jackets,” Zoey Ogbe, 13, an eighth grader, said, after receiving her coat and meeting the archbishop. “I also love how he is making the community a better place.”

Fellow eighth grader Chloe Te, 14, was also thankful to get the coat.

“They are such a beautiful color,” Chloe said, admiring her light gray jacket. “I’m getting warm already.”

Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

To view more photos from the Coats for Kids outreach, click through the slideshow below: