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Gets Coats
A family shows off their new coats during the 7th Annual Northeastern Connecticut Knights of Columbus ‘Coats for Kids’ program. Seven local K of C councils bought or collected more than 550 new and used coats, as well as blankets and baby clothing, to give to needy, local children and adults, giving them away on Black Friday. Photo: John D. Ryan.

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BROOKLYN —A warm winter coat. Most people take wearing one for granted. Some people can’t afford to. That’s why several local Knights of Columbus councils stepped in Nov. 29 to help.
For the seventh year in a row, seven of Windham County’s local K of C councils joined forces to buy or collect a total of more than 550 new and used coats for needy, local children and adults. Nov. 29 Knights went to the Brooklyn Parks and Recreation Department’s offices to give away the coats, along with their collection of almost 100 used blankets and more than 100 sets of used baby clothes, all clean and in good condition, so whole families could be helped. As usual, the effort also included contributions to local homeless shelters, clothing banks and social service agencies.
Also, for the first time, this program also included more than $300 worth of winter socks bought by the K of C councils and given to local veterans groups for distribution to needy local vets.
“The Knights of Columbus live by the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, and we demonstrated that today, right here in this room,” said Grand Knight Clifford C. Soucy of Brooklyn. “It shows what Brother Knights can do when we work together to help people in our community.” Soucy is the elected leader of Mystical Rose Council 49, of Brooklyn.
Working since this spring, the seven local councils, which cover an area from Ashford east to Thompson and south to Plainfield and Moosup, bought and donated specially-made, new, K of C children’s winter “Coats for Kids.” They also collected good quality used coats for adults, as well as baby clothing and blankets, to give away at the same time.
Recipients received coats, blankets or baby clothing solely on the basis of need, regardless of race, nationality or religion. In order to find recipients, K of C organizers contacted more than 100 local public and private schools, churches and non-denominational social service agencies located throughout Windham County, asking them to invite needy people to be fitted for a coat.
And come they did. Families with children from towns throughout Windham County trooped in, with youngsters and their parents being fitted by Knights for coats and sometimes taking blankets, baby clothing, or both, to bring home. Most found the right sized coat and left wearing it, something Soucy said made it all worthwhile.


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