TOOTSIE ROLL DRIVE SATURDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2024

What do the Knights of Columbus have to do with Tootsie Rolls?

Many moons ago the Supreme Council followed the lead of one of the

Massachusetts councils, in which the Kennedy Family were members ( and had a sister with the disability), and had started a fundraising program for the benefit

of individuals with intellectual disabilities and challenges, and made it a main

charitable activity for the whole nation of the Knights. Therefore, each state, including Tennessee started a charity for that purpose. Our state’s charity is called KIND CHARITIES  OF TENNESSEE.

It also happened that a big wig in the Tootsie Roll Company was a knight and

arranged for the councils to get supplies of Tootsie Rolls at a wholesale price for the annual programs.

Therefore our council, as do many in the state, have an annual event to solicit funds from the general public in several ways. We go on the streets to collect funds in Hendersonville. The money we collect goes direct to the state charity. In turn our council is able to designate a local organization that serves the challenged individuals to receive up to 100% of what we collect. Our council’s designated

organization is ST. JOHN PAUL II which has a program called Hand-In-Hand that integrates and educates youngsters with intellectual and developmental challenges.

So when asked for your support of this collection effort on the designated day (once a year) please sign up to help for a couple of hours.

Please use the form, below to register to help out.