The day began with 450 coats ready for distribution and a dedicated team of about 20 volunteers, including SDRR Marty Brown, SCD Larry Herman, DPD Grand Rapids-N Randy Kinsey, and numerous GK officers and council members from across the Diocese of Grand Rapids. A special highlight was the energetic help from the Vandewater family—Margaret and her children, Patrick, Ezra, Ruth, and Luke. All four kids, being bilingual, were invaluable in connecting with families.

 

Thanks to the overwhelming turnout, the coat drive wrapped up early—by 11:15 AM on Saturday, November 15—with every coat finding a new home well before the scheduled noon closing time. With so many hands on deck, cleanup was quick, and the team was packed up and out by 11:30 AM.

There’s nothing quite like seeing a child light up with a new coat, and this event perfectly captured the Knights of Columbus’s spirit of charity and brotherhood. Another year, another heartwarming success!