On Saturday, October 26th 2024, more than 900 brand new coats and hand-knit winter hats were distributed to clients of Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) by the greater Norwalk area Knights of Columbus Councils as part of the Order’s Coats for Kids Initiative. Sizes from toddler and children’s to men’s and women’s were organised and distributed. Since the initiative launched in 2009, more than 1 million coats have been distributed in 49 states and all 10 Canadian provinces to keep kids warm through the winter.

Knights of Columbus Councils from Norwalk, Wilton, New Caanan, Westport and Bishop Fenwick Assembly 100 4th Degree worked together to purchase the brand-new coats with St. Matthew Parishioners Karen Delvecchio and Terri Sargant donating handmade winter hats and scarves for the 6th year in a row.

Please review the official press release included as a picture below. Special thanks to Louis Furlo, Barry Gunderson, Bob Lenihan, Dave Flynn and Mike Healy for their help during the weekend. None of this would have been possible with the huge donations from “Our Lady of Fatima” parishioners, all the Knights who helped with the collections and Fr. Reggie Norman for his support (and Nancy O’Connell in the office).

To see the look of relief and joy on the children’s faces was worth more than any lottery win anywhere in the world!