Knights of Columbus works to give 40,000 coats to Canadian kids in need

The Knights of Columbus in Canada is working to help keep kids warm through the nation’s cold winter by aiming to distribute 40,000 coats to children.

The ambitious campaign, which has taken place every year since 2008 in Canada and 2009 in the U.S., began Oct. 29 at St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Elementary School in Hamilton, Ontario. The Knights held an event for representatives of more than 80 local elementary schools, where they distributed 2,500 coats donated by organization members and insurance agents across the province, according to an Oct. 29 press release.

“Each year, we see firsthand how something that appears so simple can make a big difference in the life of a young child,” David Gelinas, state deputy for the Knights of Columbus in Ontario, said in the release. “Thanks to the generosity of our brother Knights across Canada, we're proud to continue ensuring that no child has to face the coldest months of the year without a warm coat.”

If the 2025 goal of 40,000 coats is met, the Knights of Columbus is on track to have given more than 1.8 million winter coats to children in Canada and the U.S. since the annual program’s founding. 

The annual program began in the U.S. in 2009, with the distribution of 1,200 coats in Washington, D.C. It later spread to Canada, and it now reaches all 10 provinces.

With a network of over 180,000 members across Canada, the Knights of Columbus distributes coats to tens of thousands of children in need each year. More than one-fifth of Canadian children live in poverty, according to the release. 

Given the harsh winter that much of the country experiences, the gift of a warm coat can make a real difference, according to David Hansen, director of education at the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.

“The Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program is a powerful example of faith in action, a reminder that care for others begins in our own neighbourhoods,” Hansen said, according to the release. “Through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus, countless children across our community will be able to walk to school, play outdoors, and learn in comfort and dignity this winter. We are deeply grateful for the Knights’ continued partnership and their steadfast commitment to serving those most in need.”