Knights of Columbus donate 1,052 pounds of food to local food pantries

In a mid-year food drive, the Knights of Columbus 9933 of Holy Family Catholic Church were able to solicit 590 pounds of donated non-perishable foods for the Social Concerns Food Pantry and donated an additional 462 pounds to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Merlin Hymel, deputy grand knight, said the Knights of Columbus usually only holds food drives during the holiday season, but decided this year that they would begin holding the collections a few times a year.

“We are going to try and expand and do one in the spring or the summer, it just depends on how we can arrange it,” he said.

Hymel was one of 12 Knights of Columbus members who stood beside a cart outside of Majoria’s Supermarket on Highway 90 in Boutte seeking  donations for the parish’s needy residents.

For the past 15 years, Hymel and other Knights of Columbus members have run similar food drives for those who could use a helping hand.

“We always have people that need help,” he said.

Throughout that time, the Knights of Columbus has partnered with Majoria’s Supermarket to collect donations for food drives.

“Majoria’s was even willing to weigh the food in the store itself,” he said.

In addition to the 590 pounds donated to Social Concerns at the end of the weekend food drive, the Knights of Columbus 9933 also donated 462 pounds of food left over from their fall food drive to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan.

Hymel said the donations they made should go a long way toward helping some needy families.

“At least 50 families can eat off of that combined amount,” he said. “I would guess it would last about two weeks if they ate exclusively off that food. It is a pretty good mix. There is rice, beans and a lot of canned goods.”

In the end, Hymel said the group’s goal is to help as many people as possible.

“We just try to do whatever we can to serve the community and serve the Lord,” he said.

Those who would like to join with the Knights of Columbus in putting an end to hunger can do so by contacting Merlin Hymel by phone at (985) 785-9031 or by email at merlin.hymel@cox.net.

 

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