March 24, 2010

Fish dinner proceeds to result in wheelchair donations

By Julie Filby

Local Knights of Columbus are hoping to transform lives—one wheelchair at a time—in partnership with the American Wheelchair Mission.

The February issue of Columbia magazine (a monthly publication of Knights of Columbus), featured an article about the nonprofit organization and their goal of providing new, free wheelchairs to physically disabled children, teens and adults. An estimated 100 million people in the world need wheelchairs, but can’t afford them.

Knight member Mike Mullin was so moved by the story that he proposed that his council—Council 3340 affiliated with St. Mary Parish in Littleton—consider raising funds for the organization. They decided to donate the proceeds from their weekly Friday Lenten fish dinners to the wheelchair mission.

“This project fits the main purpose of the Knights of Columbus principle of charity,” said Mullin, a Knight of more than 50 years who is chairing the campaign. “To restore mobility, dignity and quality of life is such a worthwhile cause.”
The council hopes to raise $3,000 from the dinners, which would equate to 20 wheelchairs.

While wheelchairs typically cost more than $500 at medical supply stores, the American Wheelchair Mission purchases them in bulk at a discount. A container of 100 wheelchairs can be purchased for $16,500. Several parishioners have volunteered to donate $150 each to purchase a wheelchair.

The Knights of Columbus organization—with more than 15,000 councils and 1.7 million members—is the largest Catholic men’s fraternal benefit organization in the world. Since 2003, Knights in the United States and Canada, in partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission (affiliated with the American Wheelchair Mission), have distributed an estimated 20,000 wheelchairs around the world. Orders in 40 states are participating in the program.

For more information on the mission, visit www.kofc.org/wheel chair.

Council 3340 fish dinners are 5 p.m.-7 p.m. every Friday of Lent (excluding Good Friday) at St. Mary Parish, 6853 S. Prince St. in Littleton. Guests can dine on fried cod, baked salmon, potatoes, corn, salad and dessert. Meals range from $3-$9. Contact the parish office at 303-798-8506 with any questions.