Knights of Columbus Collect 1.5+ Tons of Food

CONCORD, NH - From 3 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2016, to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19, as part of its 120th Anniversary, the Concord Knights of Columbus Council #112 conducted a 24-Hour, round-the-clock, Fill-the-Truck, Easter Food Drive.

With a donated 28-foot 18-wheeler trailer from Ross Express, the drive was held in the parking lot of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 180 Loudon Road in Concord.

During the course of this round-the-clock food drive with around 30 brothers participated, we have attracted one transfer, collected at a bare minimum 3,650 lbs. of food and $934 in cash donations. All proceeds were donated to the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry at St. John the Evangelist Church. Fr. Richard Roberge, pastor of Christ the King Parish, was thrilled with our results.

Promotion of the event was aided by radio stations WKXL, WTPL, and WICX, the Concord Patch, the Concord Monitor, and television stations NH1 and WMUR Channel 9, which both featured the drive on their newscasts.

Both Concord parishes assisted through bulletin listings, posting of posters and personal announcements from the pastors. The Concord Lions, upon learning about the event, partnered with us, offering additional manpower and boxing supplies. In addition, posters were placed at various businesses around town and Spectrum Marketing Companies, Inc. donated several large banners, the posters, thank you slips, and placards for the day of the event. St. John’s Regional School listed the event in their student newsletter.

A local Concord Police Department officer visited us in his cruiser and made a personal food donation.

Holy Family Academy of Manchester made an appeal for food donations to their staff and students to benefit our drive and contributed over 50 pounds.

It was a long 24-hours, but we kept warm with a large fire pit, and by grilling shrimp on Friday and cheeseburgers at midnight! It was a wonderful time of fellowship and service.

Submitted by Chuck McGee