Recently, Council 16088 of the Knights of Columbus at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade conducted a drive to accumulate warm clothing for the Crab Orchard Care Center.
Donations were gathered at St. Francis of Assisi Church before and after each of three Masses one weekend. Announcements of the upcoming drive were provided for several weeks beforehand at Masses, at gatherings, and in the bulletin to allow parishioners to prepare their donations.
The result was a very successful effort, as the collected items included 305 coats or jackets, 235 sweaters, 46 blankets, 52 scarfs, 62 pairs of gloves, 49 pairs of pants, 43 hats, 30 pairs of socks, and 15 pairs of shoes. Many of these items were brand new.
Volunteers from the Knights of Columbus and the Crab Orchard Care Center then sorted the items and hung them on racks, or laid them out for distribution. Advance notifications of the scheduled distribution at local churches helped ensure that it was as successful as the donation process. Many recipients expressed great thanks to the Care Center staff for those involved in making the drive happen, and to those who took the time and care to make the donations.
The Crab Orchard Care Center is an independent nonprofit agency that functions to serve the needs of those in eastern Cumberland County. The center is located at 87 Commerce St. in Crab Orchard. Besides distributions such as this, the center provides food assistance every Saturday to needy families, generally serving between 110 and 130 families per week. This effort is an ongoing task throughout the year.
To participate in serving the needs of the organization, call Mary Nelson, director of the center, at 931-707-5616. To make a financial donation to help the center provide for needed supplies and equipment, its mailing address is P.O. Box 274, Crab Orchard, TN 37723.
