Knights of Columbus

2021 Tootsie Roll Drive

Collected $10,500.

The drive was conducted this year on Wednesday, Sep 15, and the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Sep 17-19.) We were limited to collecting only at the transfer station, the three Market Baskets, and the Liquor Store. Someone was sighted at the Wal-mart, but that is unofficial. We had a good group of Knights as volunteers and we really had great support from members of groups that we support with this campaign. Last year's organizations included Salem Blue Devil Special Olympics; Dancing Among Stars - theater group; Bridging the Horizon; Kimi Nichols Center; Camp Fatima. This year we will propose the same organizations be identified to receive funds.

This fund raiser helps each of the organizations to continue to operate and carry on their programming to support people with intellectual disabilities.

This event allows for knights and non-members to come together to:

1. Increase awareness of those in need in the community;

2. Support people with intellectual disabilities;

3. Interface with the community and educate citizens on how the knights are actively involved with fund raising and supporting those in need in our community;

4. Many non-members who volunteer display pride in being able to support this drive, collect money for their organizations, talk and engage with the public and offer a chance for people to ask questions about the organizations who benefit from the drive's funds.

I want to thank our Knights who volunteered their time: Gene Bryant, Mike Petrilli, Paul St Amand (who broke the coin counter), Ed Lynch, Larry Belair, Chris Alphen, Butch Kealey, Al Cormier, Paul Reitano, Bill Sylvestri, Mark Alfano, Bob Gatta, Wes Suszek, Bob Fornier, Joe Balzano, Dan Buck, Ed Herger, Ralph Miele, John Gagnon, Rick Veilleux, Julien Roy, Dr. Stan Gorgol, Paul Lavioe, Chris Conard, George Masciarelli, Chanel Simard, Pete Klecan, and Bruce Silver. (Don’t forget Pauline and Pam Gorgol and Kris Klecan! -ed) We had 28 Knights and 44 civilians volunteer a total of about 233 hours.

It was a great weather weekend for our Tootsie Roll campaign. Pete Klecan is our chairman, ably assisted by Gene Bryant and wife Kristen. This event is the largest event for our council in terms of the number of individuals involved. It was good to see old and new members come in and out of the hall, to gather their buckets, aprons, and Tootsie Rolls. And we thankfully acknowledged the many helpers from our Salem community, especially from our friends in the charities that we support. Below is an array from the variety of storefronts that we were stationed.

The days of June 6 to June 10 were a perfect sunny weekend for our council's annual Tootsie Roll Drive to benefit various groups supporting people with intellectual difficulties. Pete Klecan, our chairman, supported by able lieutenants Gene Bryant and Bill Silverstri, headed a team of loyal minions composed of more than 35 Knights and 50 other volunteers to work at 11 store fronts in Salem, as well as our parish churches and the Salem transfer station. While the shoppers in Salem saw our volunteers handing out Tootsie Rolls and collecting, they did not see the many tasks that go into making this drive a success. Pete, Gene, and Bill mailed letters to the town for Salem's approval and more letters to each store, asking for their approval to solicit outside their stores. Counters worked to total the monies, while separating US coins from Scrub-a-Dub car wash tokens and Canadian money. Donuts, hot dogs, snacks and drinks were supplied to keep the volunteers happy. This was definitely a group effort. We broke last year's record with $14,893 collected.

The money is sent to the KofC State, where the cost of the tootsie rolls and a “cut” for the State's Special Olympics charities is taken. Then about 70% returns to the council's charities. That all goes to the following charities:

Camp Fatima - 20%

Salem Blue Devils Special Olympics - 20%

Kimi Nichols Center - 10%

Bridging the Horizon - 10%

Play Among the Stars Theater Group – 40% (Those folks show up force to help our drive!)