Knights are called to serve others. Our first principle is Charity – at home with our families and in our communities. When Knights of Columbus members come together as one through their council and parish, they accomplish great things.
Every community has its unique needs. For the Knights of Columbus, whose first principle is charity, finding ways to help those in need in their communities is a mission its members embrace. Through their good works, whether it be bringing food to the hungry, warm coats to the cold, wheelchairs to those who can’t walk, or any of the many programs conducted to help those in need, the Knights of Columbus practices a charity that evangelizes.
The purpose of the Community program is to involve the Council in the following activities related to our community:
SignUpGenius is used to solicit volunteers for: Basketball Free-Throw, Council Christmas Party, Dunwoody Butterfly Festival, Fall Festival Support, Fish Fry, Fish Fry Appreciation Luncheon, Habitat for Humanity Work Day, Homeless Shelter, PWID, Pumpkin Patch, Soapbox Derby and Vidalia Onion Sale.
Parish and District Basketball Free-Throw Competitions
Timeframe and Location: In January, preliminaries are held in the All Saints Gym. In February, district-level competition is held in the same location. Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to provide all interested local children the opportunity to test their free-throw skills and possibly advance to KofC district and state competitions. Activity Description: Boys and girls compete only with other boys and girls in their age group. With 2-4 free-throw stations set-up, Brothers verify the basketball player’s age and serve as scorekeeper for the number of successful free-throws. Winners of each boy and girl age category advance to the district-level competition held about two weeks after the Super Bowl. Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help:
– Set-up the gym (basketballs, score sheets), and
– Keep score for all kids assigned to their free-throw line.
Timeframe and Location: BINGO is played monthly at 7:30 PM on the fourth Thursday night (third Thursday in November and December) in the All Saints Parish Hall. Purpose: This activity provides a monthly social activity for parishioners and Dunwoody residents in collaboration with the Citizens of Dunwoody (COD). Profits generated by the COD provide funds to support Council charities. Activity Description: The Citizens of Dunwoody BINGO provides a fun-filled evening, complete with a light meal, and a cash bar for beverages. Brother Knights staff the event, on behalf of the COD. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are screened by Georgia State and IRS 501(c)3 criteria. Once cleared, they assist the COD’s BINGO committee. Volunteers are needed to help:
– Set-up gaming operations, conduct the BINGO’s, and break-down afterwards,
– Prepare and serve the food and beverages, and
– Clean-up at the end of the evening.
Timeframe and Location: This activity takes place throughout the year. Purpose: This activity provides mentoring support for Cristo Rey High School students. Activity Description: Depending on your work or life skills, you may be able to mentor Cristo Rey students to help them make decisions that will have positive influences on their lives.
Timeframe and Location: This festival takes place on a Saturday afternoon in August. Activity Description: One of the most fun cooking events during the year is the Butterfly Festival. It’s easy! Knights only cook and serve the food the organizers provide. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help:
– Transport the grill to and from the event, and
– Cook and serve meals purchased by festival attendees.
Timeframe and Location: The Fish Fries occur annually during Lent, serving from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on eight nights: Friday before Ash Wednesday (Trial Run), Ash Wednesday, and the following six Fridays during Lent, in the All Saints gym. Prep, cooking and set-up occur at other times prior to each event. Purpose: The purpose of the Fish Fry is to raise funds for the many charities that Council 11402 supports. Activity Description: Annually during Lent, the Knights get together in the All Saints gym and prepare good fish and seafood meals at a reasonable price for members of All Saints Parish and other patrons in the Dunwoody and Metro Atlanta area. All are welcome!!! Fish Fry night dinners are served from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on eight nights as mentioned above. Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help before, during and after each Fish Fry to:
– Cook/fry and prepare various fish, seafood, sides and chowder in the kitchens,
– Serve meals, sides, and chowder to patrons in the gym,
– Clean-up (dishes, utensils, etc.) in the kitchen and remove trash and recyclables from the gym,
– Set-up and take-down tables and chairs in the gym,
– Deliver meals to patrons’ tables in the gym and for customer take-out,
– Write meal orders and collect money for eat-in and take-out orders,
– Sell beverages,
– Wrap eating utensils,
– Recycle cans, bottles and plastics, and
– Miscellaneous jobs as needed.
SignUpGenius is used to solicit adult volunteers. Feel free to contact Tom Simon directly at tgsimon@comcast.net or 770-378-8999.
Student volunteers utilize a special SignUpGenius through the All Saints Youth Coordinator. Contact Bob Mitchell at bobmitchellga@yahoo.com or 770-804-8060 for information.
Fish Fry Appreciation Luncheon
Timeframe and Location: This activity usually occurs on a Sunday from noon until 3:00 PM in the gym, approximately one month after the last Fish Fry dinner. Purpose: This event is a Thank You luncheon for all the many volunteers, spouses and significant others. Activity Description: Caniglia whiskey steaks, with sides, soft drinks, beer, and wine are served at no cost. This is the Council’s way to show appreciation to all who make the Fish Fry so successful! Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help:
– Grill the steaks,
– Prepare the side items,
– Set-up and break-down the tables and chairs in the gym.
SignUpGenius is used to solicit volunteers and eVite is used to track attendees.
Timeframe and Location: This activity usually takes place in August or September at the All Saints Habitat for Humanity build site. Purpose: Council Brothers and families/friends support one weekend workday at the house that All Saints Habitat for Humanity is building. Activity Description: Six to eight hours of manual labor are provided on a Saturday during the building of an All Saints Habitat for Humanity home. No experience is needed. The staff will match your skills with work you can do well. A well-deserved lunch is served. Appropriate attire is comfortable work clothes appropriate for the weather. Don’t forget sunscreen! All tools and hard hats are provided. Adults and children 16 years of age and older are welcome. Volunteers may carpool from McGivney Hall. Volunteer Opportunities: Around 30 Brothers/family members are needed to help:
– Provide manual labor, as directed by staff,
– Transport the grill (if used) to and from the Habitat for Humanity build site, and
– Cook the meat, if provided by the Council (all other condiments/sides prepared by the All Saints parish volunteers).
Click here to view photos of the Knights working on the All Saints #24 Habitat Home – 2017.
Timeframe and Location: This activity takes place two Sunday evenings each year, one in November or December, and one in January or February. Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to prepare sandwiches (breakfast takeaways) and dinners for homeless men in the downtown Atlanta area, deliver and serve the food, and staff the shelter overnight. Activity Description: Meeting in the All Saints gym, sandwiches are prepared by volunteers. After the arrival of other parish dinner meals, volunteers drive/carpool to the Homeless Shelter location, normally at downtown Atlanta’s Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Volunteers serve the food, clean up the kitchen, and retire for the night to onsite beds. Sandwiches are distributed in the morning and volunteers leave about 8:00 AM. Volunteers who can’t stay overnight can depart after the Sunday evening meal. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed:
– In the All Saints gym to prepare sandwiches, and
– At the homeless shelter to prepare and serve food, clean-up the kitchen, and staff the shelter overnight.
Timeframe and Location: This activity takes place year-round. Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to provide volunteer drivers and transportation to DeKalb seniors for their medical appointments. Activity Description: Volunteers, using their own vehicles, transport DeKalb seniors to and from their medical appointments. A central coordinator ensures that volunteers receive requests based on their availability and schedule.
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs when and where needed. Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to keep widows in our activities throughout the year. Activity Description: This activity covers the following actions:
– Gratis card (one game card) for each monthly Bingo night.
– Gratis card (one dinner) for each Fish Fry night.
– Six week call after the husband’s death to “check-in” with widow.
– “Check-in” via a mailed Easter card.
– “Check-in” via a mailed Christmas card.
– Invitation to the Council Oktoberfest “on the banks of the Chattahoochee.”
– Invitation to the Council Christmas party.
– Invitation to the annual Knight’s Mass of Remembrance.
– Assistance with minor home repairs.
– Recognition of one year anniversary of husband’s death. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help with assistance with minor home repairs.
A working list of volunteers with home repair skills is used to solicit volunteers. Contact the Activity Chair to volunteer.
Pumpkin Patch
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs each fall, five weeks prior to Halloween, throughout the All Saints campus. Purpose: The purpose of the Pumpkin Patch is to raise funds for the many charities that Council 11402 supports. Activity Description: Annually, starting the last week in September, one truckload delivers about 3,500 pumpkins to All Saints and the pumpkins are arranged for sale around the front of the church, parish administration building, and in front of the parish playground. While other pumpkin patches around the area are displayed on sterile plots, ours provides a unique experience, with customers welcomed by scarecrows, hay bales, and pumpkins as they drive on the parish grounds. A staged area is provided for pumpkin photos and a unique sight and sound experience – the Singing Pumpkins – is sure to delight the children (and adults).
Sales are so brisk that a second truckload usually is received. A special arrangement of income revenue sharing between the pumpkin supplier and the Council ensures no financial risk to the Council and a guaranteed profit for Knight’s charities. Final arrangements are made for the disposition of unsold inventory. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help:
– Unload the initial truck and arrange the pumpkins around the church campus (Knights, family and friends),
– Unload the second resupply truck that arrives about halfway through the event and arrange the pumpkins around the church campus (Knights, family and friends),
– Collect sales payments during the day and after each weekend mass (Knights and family), and
– Clean-up the campus (wheat straw and unsold pumpkins) at the end of the sale (Knights, family and friends).
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs in the spring, with parish and local business participation. Purpose: This activity raises funds for a GA State Council KofC Charity known as People with Intellectual Disabilities (PWID), but is frequently referred to as the Tootsie Roll Drive. PWID supports teenagers and adults with programs to improve their quality of life. Activity Description: During a designated weekend, Knights are positioned outside the church exits to hand-out Tootsie Rolls and receive donations. Knights also stand outside local, participating businesses to receive donations. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help:
– Collect donations at all weekend Masses (Sat. and Sun.) on the selected weekend, and
– Collect donations outside local merchant locations (normally on Saturday) during one of two shifts:
– 9:30 AM – noon, or
– noon – 2:30 PM.
Timeframe and Location: This activity takes place throughout the year. Purpose: The RSVP activity provides limited financial support to several seminarians twice each year. Activity Description: Each seminarian is provided $300 twice each year from Council funds. Throughout the year, the Activity Chair contacts the seminarians and shares their progress with the Council during monthly business meetings.
Contact the Activity Chair if you would like to personally correspond with one of the Council-supported seminarians.
Stand up for Kids
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs one weekday evening, year-round. Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to help homeless, at-risk teens find a place where they can talk to qualified counselors and fellow teens. Activity Description: Weekly, volunteers assist as needed at the Stand Up for Kids shelter or as a Street Outreach Volunteer connecting with homeless and at-risk youth (24 years old and younger) on the streets of Atlanta. Volunteers will provide resources, toiletries, snack packs, and harm reduction counseling to address the risks associated with street life.
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs each spring, usually the last weekend in April or first weekend in May, The date varies based on when the onions are ripe. Purpose: The purpose of the Vidalia Onion Sale is to raise funds to support Council Charities. Activity Description: Annually, starting in late January, emails are sent to Atlanta area KofC Councils to ask them to be a part of the KofC Vidalia Onion Team for that year. Contact is made with the wholesaler in Glennville, Georgia to establish the relationship for that year. Working out of a local warehouse the week of the sale, Council Brothers distribute onions to our Council and to the other participating local Councils.
The Vidalia onions are sold during one weekend at All Saints with volunteers stationed at an area to load onions into parishioners’ cars, each church exit, and one “before you leave the property” station as cars head off campus. Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help:
– Set-up sales locations,
– Accept delivery of onions at All Saints,
– Transport onions to participating parishes,
– Staff the various sales locations around All Saints, and
– Clean-up sales locations after the sale weekend.
Timeframe and Location: In January, preliminaries are held in the All Saints Gym. In February, district-level competition is held in the same location.
Timeframe and Location: BINGO is played monthly at 7:30 PM on the fourth Thursday night (third Thursday in November and December) in the All Saints Parish Hall.
Timeframe and Location: This activity takes place throughout the year.
Timeframe and Location: This festival takes place on a Saturday afternoon in August.
Timeframe and Location: The Fish Fries occur annually during Lent, serving from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on eight nights: Friday before Ash Wednesday (Trial Run), Ash Wednesday, and the following six Fridays during Lent, in the All Saints gym. Prep, cooking and set-up occur at other times prior to each event.
Timeframe and Location: This activity usually occurs on a Sunday from noon until 3:00 PM in the gym, approximately one month after the last Fish Fry dinner.
Timeframe and Location: This activity usually takes place in August or September at the All Saints Habitat for Humanity build site.
Timeframe and Location: This activity takes place two Sunday evenings each year, one in November or December, and one in January or February.
Timeframe and Location: This activity takes place year-round.
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs when and where needed.
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs each fall, five weeks prior to Halloween, throughout the All Saints campus.
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs in the spring, with parish and local business participation.
Timeframe and Location: This activity takes place throughout the year.
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs one weekday evening, year-round.
Timeframe and Location: This activity occurs each spring, usually the last weekend in April or first weekend in May, The date varies based on when the onions are ripe.
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