Thanks to the continuation of a generous partnership, children who are in need of a new coat won’t have to look far in the Camden Central School District this winter. On Wednesday, October 16th, district officials gathered with members of the Camden Knights of Columbus Eugene F Sauer Council 16943 for their annual winter coat distribution event at the St. John the Evangelist Parish Hall on Third Street in the Village of Camden.
Each year, the Knights team up with the Burlington Coats for Kids initiative to provide coats for children in need, which are distributed through local schools. The coats are purchased at a heavily discounted price through Burlington, which helps the Knights help more children with each dollar. They began working with AA Cole Elementary in Constantia, under the Central Square Central School District, approximately ten years ago. Around five years ago, that partnership expanded into Camden Central School District buildings, where it continues today.
Through an annual 900 dollar investment, the Knights are able to provide 50 jackets across the five school buildings they service with this partnership, with each building getting, on average, about ten coats apiece to distribute to children who may have difficulty getting one otherwise. Through a partnership with the Rome Alliance for Education and Connected Community Schools, the Knights also donate $1,000 per year that is earmarked for student needs in the Camden Central School District, and the buying power of that organization helps those funds go a long way.
The Knights support this program through fundraisers throughout the year, such as their spaghetti dinners and their semiannual cash raffles. If you’d like to support this initiative for future years, and possibly help the Knights help even more students, tickets for their holiday raffle will go on sale beginning November 1st.
The partnership is facilitated with the help of multiple District staff members who belong to the Knights. Camden Middle School technology teacher Tom Hickey, and Camden High School principal Aaron Fiorini are among them. As someone who is part of the organization, and has seen the effect that these donations can have as a school administrator, Fiorini believes it’s a win for everyone involved.
“It’s huge,” Fiorini said. “All the money that gets raised stays right here locally, and then we can go help our school HUBs out with these coats, and hats, and food. It all goes into our kids and into our community and that’s the great thing about this organization.”