KoC helps St. Michael’s students with The Exchange donation

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

The Holy Family Knights of Columbus has stepped in to help a class project at St. Michael's Catholic Secondary School.

St. Michael's teacher Nick Stavrinou put together a project with students in his hospitality class to prepare meals to organize and deliver to Caledon Community Services, The Exchange. 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, combined with reduced school hours and provincial protocols consistently changing, the project wasn't able to be completed. That's where the Knights of Columbus came in. 

“Unfortunately, our school year was cut short with the pandemic, but we were finally able to complete this project for which (the) Knights of Columbus Council so generously provided the funds,” said Starvinou. “Kim the manager at the Exchange was ecstatic and thanked everyone who was responsible for these meals which the Exchange will provide to the needy in our community.”

Members at the Knights of Columbus have been continuously supporting St. Michael's Catholic Secondary School on a regular basis, so when Starvinou and his class were in need of help, the group didn't hesitate to jump in. 

The project was originally meant to take place over the Christmas period, but due to the circumstances of the pandemic, they decided to implement the project sooner.

“We make donations to St. Michael's on a regular basis, so when teacher Nick Stavrinou needed funding for his hospitality class project, he put out a request to our Council,” said Jerry Gorman, member of the Holy Family Knights of Columbus Council. “We donated $750 for the project.”

In addition to supporting this project, the Knights of Columbus contributes to the secondary school with an annual education scholarship of $1,000, as well as helping fund a stained-glass window in the schools' chapel. 

The Knights of Columbus commits to supporting not only their Parish, but several other charities in the Caledon community too. 

With social distancing rules in place, and order to keep all members safe, the group has been meeting virtually since March. 

“We have been unable to meet in person and so our regular monthly meetings are held virtually on the computer,” said Gorman. “Our charitable fundraisers have been curtailed, except organizing Holy Family Church Parish ‘Forty Tins for Forty Days' food collection week (was) donated to the Exchange for distribution at Thanksgiving.”

The Exchange recently took to Twitter thanking the students at St. Michaels and the members of Knights of Columbus .

“Shout-out to the St. Michael's hospitality class and Knights of Columbus for coming together to provide turkey meals for Caledon families in need this Thanksgiving. Thank you for your generous support and community spirit!” the post read.